Nano bar codes are the molecular versions of traditional bar codes--metal nano-particles that have specific, recognizable chemical fingerprints that can be read by a machine, perhaps a UV lamp or optical microscope.

FORBES: Safer And Guilt-Free Nano Foods

Both methods can be applied to a broad selection of objects, making them ideal candidates for anti-counterfeit detection for everything from diamonds to passports -- all that's needed to verify authenticity is an optical microscope.

ENGADGET: IBM brings the fight to counterfeiters with nano-sized authentication methods (video)

Yang's tiny microscope combines microfluidic technology--nanoscale devices that handle very small volumes of fluids--with optical sensors to do the tasks traditional microscopes do but cheaper and more efficiently.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Yang's tiny, dime-sized microscope combines microfluidic technology--nanoscale devices that handle very small volumes of fluids--with optical sensors to do the tasks traditional microscopes do, but cheaper and more efficiently.

FORBES: Magazine Article