Australia's national science agency Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has developed landmine detection technology to assist with de-mining efforts.

With more than 100 million landmines reportedly deployed throughout 60 countries and directly responsible for roughly 6,500 casualties a year, landmines — along with other explosive remnants of war — are considered a global humanitarian crisis.

Source: CSIRO

As such, CSIRO has established a tech company called MRead to develop handheld landmine detection technology.

Through MRead, CSIRO has created magnetic resonance technology capable of detecting the molecular signatures of explosives used in the making of landmines.

The developers of the landmine detection technology suggest that the devices quickly and accurately detect landmines for clearing and they won’t detect clutter like bottle caps and shrapnel like the handheld metal detectors currently in use for landmine detection efforts do.

"The magnetic resonance landmine detection technology will have profound impact on areas recovering from and currently experiencing hardship and danger from uncleared minefields," the researchers explained. "These enduring explosive remnants of war inhibit freedom of movement, limit access to food, water, schools, hospitals, and shelter that jeopardizes the safe recovery and return of civilian populations.”