A single lung cancer cell can be forced to output its own "binary code" to tell doctors exactly what type of tumor it is.

Diagnosing specific cancer subtypes usually requires multiple tests and a large tissue sample. This nanoprobe enters an individual cell and measures the activity of microRNA and telomerase. It then converts those levels into a 3-bit binary fluorescence signal that glows in specific colors. This turns a biological process into a digital readout that is much harder for doctors to misinterpret. It allows for high-precision diagnosis at the single-cell level, potentially catching aggressive cancers before they even form a visible lump.