A new way to detect skin cancer has been formed by scientists at the University of Warwick.

With some early trials on patients already underway with the use of so-called Terahertz (THz) waves, the medical mission hopes to speed up surgery and help surgeons remove cancers while leaving as much healthy skin as possible.

These waves are used in remote controls and microwaves on the electromagnetic spectrum.

Additionally, they can be used in scans for mapping the extent of tumours more precisely.

Because it usually takes a hard time to actually generate, scientists refer to the terahertz “gap” as it is a bit of the spectrum.

However, that has started to change in the last few years, as scientists have now learned to make THz waves. It can now be made use of and this is what the research at Warwick is all about.

Professor Emma MacPherson demonstrated how THz waves are now being used to detect skin cancer, according to international media.

She explained: “THz waves were a million times lower frequency than X-rays so it’s really safe and it’s really sensitive to subtle changes in water concentration.”