News Physics Next on CSI: Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy New twist on powerful analytic method makes it much more useful By Rachel Ehrenberg March 18, 2010 at 10:26 am - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Scientists have developed a quick and dusty method for detecting trace quantities of unknown substances. Described in the March 18 Nature, the new technique amounts to little more than sprinkling a layer of gold dust on the surface to be tested.