BRANDON BAILEY, AP Technology Writer

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Google’s latest “moon shot” project: A pill that would test for cancer and other illnesses.

The company says it’s working a pill that contains microscopic particles, which can travel through the bloodstream and search for malignant cells. The particles could then report their findings to a sensor device that you wear.

The project is in the early stages. It’s the latest effort undertaken by the Internet giant’s X division, which tries to apply new technology to solving big problems. The division’s other “moon shot” efforts include self-driving cars and contact lenses that can measure glucose in tears.

Google says the microscopic particles can be magnetized and coated with antibodies that bind with specific proteins or cells associated with various maladies. A wearable sensor could track the particles’ magnetic fields.