And now, a new use for sticky tape... X-rays
October 22nd, 2008
An Israeli woman buys tape at a hardware shop in Jerusalem in 2003. Scotch tape is not only see-through, it can also see through, for the product can be used to take X-rays, bemused scientists say.
Scotch tape is not only see-through, it can also see through, for the product can be used to take X-rays, bemused scientists say.
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1
I'd better not get cancer because of it :(
One wonders how the first person figured it out. Trying to ship a box of xray film and using too much tape on the packaging whilst doing it in a vacuum in space? The mind boggles. I would love to know the history of the discovery.
I've noticed when peeling open a bandaid wrapper or similar in the dark creates visible light.
"As long ago as 1953, a team of scientists based in Russia suggested that peeling sticky tape produced X-rays. But "we were very sceptical about the old results," says Escobar. His team decided to look into the phenomenon anyway, and found that X-rays were indeed given off, in high-energy pulses."
Image of x-rays being emitted: http://www.nature...85-1.jpg
Image of finger x-ray: http://media.bonn...d472.jpg
Short Video: http://www.youtub...RvYU0e3Q
I've noticed the blue light myself when peeling off tape and recognized it as triboelectricity, but never thought of X-rays. Way cool!
These things will still emit xrays in an atmosphere.
plates even inside the carriers!
The hysterics among us (you know; Chicken Licken and Henny Penny) will want to ban all sticky tapes (and probably lifesavers and similar candy) as soon as this goes mainstream... and the news media will turn it into money.
Actually, there is a phenomenon called hormesis where exposure to low levels of toxins, including x-rays on other ionizing radiation, actually reduces the incidence of cancers. It was considered nonsense 30 - 40 yrs ago but the evidence today incontrovertible.
Since when?? There is a cathode and anode made of tungsten or other dense metal that is not actively radioactive in an X-Ray machine. The X-Rays are produced when a large voltage arcs to the other side and based on that voltage and amperage defines both how many X-Rays and the penetration.
If it is all done right the tape should be reusable a number of times. So we roll it one way take a bunch of X-rays and roll it back and take a bunch more.
The cost is just the electricity to turn the reel. Gotta be a lot cheaper than a big arc.
Take an envelope, a nice quality business white envelope would do.
seal it.
go under your duvet cover in the dark.
open along the seal.
wehay! lovely blue light with spring forth!
Dont know if its xrays but its a great trick!
http://news.bbc.c...6530.stm
Time for the underpaid workers in the shipping department to demand danger pay!!
And speaking of unrolling things - there's this strange thing: http://www.eskimo...all.html