Abstract:

Detailed anatomical studies of the human skin using optical coherence tomography (OCT) have revealed that the morphological structure of our eccrine sweat ducts is remarkably helical. These findings have raised the hypothesis that human sweat ducts can be the biological equivalent of helical antennas and hence resemble their electromagnetic (EM) behavior by receiving signals in the sub-THz frequency range. Here we show how this hypothesis evolved and was experimentally tested over the recent years, driven by the prospect of developing remote sensors for obtaining information about our physiological and mental state, as well as better understanding the consequences of using this frequency band for communications in the very near future.