An infrared (IR) detection sensor for detecting IR radiation. The IR detection sensor including a plurality of nanowires positioned adjacent to each other so as to define a layer. The layer has an outer surface directable towards a source of IR radiation. First and second terminals are electrically coupled to the layer and a circuit is electrically coupled to the first and second terminals. The circuit is configured to determine a value of an electrical property, such as the resistance, of the layer in response to the IR radiation absorbed by the layer.