A chemist at NIST has developed a portable version of his method for recovering trace chemicals such as environmental pollutants and forensic evidence including secret graves and arson fire debris. If successfully commercialized by industry, briefcase-sized kit could enable detectives, field inspectors, and others to carry with them a convenient version of NIST’s "headspace analysis" technique, which identifies solid or liquid compounds based on the makeup of vapors released into nearby air.