Building on his knowledge of organic chemistry, Timothy Swager, John D. MacArthur Professor of Chemistry and Head of the Department of Chemistry at the MIT, designs molecules with novel functions and applies them in the real world. Through advancements in molecular wires, Swager has invented a new class of highly sensitive materials, which are employed in explosives detection and have potential applications in healthcare, environmental protection, and security. Swager received the $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize for his inventiveness, illustrated in this video profile.