Posted on 10/22/2008 4:45:44 PM PDT by COUNTrecount
NEW YORK – Just two weeks after a Nobel Prize highlighted theoretical work on subatomic particles, physicists are announcing a startling discovery about a much more familiar form of matter: Scotch tape. It turns out that if you peel the popular adhesive tape off its roll in a vacuum chamber, it emits X-rays. The researchers even made an X-ray image of one of their fingers.
Who knew? Actually, more than 50 years ago, some Russian scientists reported evidence of X-rays from peeling sticky tape off glass. But the new work demonstrates that you can get a lot of X-rays, a study co-author says.
"We were very surprised," said Juan Escobar. "The power you could get from just peeling tape was enormous."
Escobar, a graduate student at the University of California, Los Angeles, reports the work with UCLA colleagues in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature.
He suggests that with some refinements, the process might be harnessed for making inexpensive X-ray machines for paramedics or for places where electricity is expensive or hard to get.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Oops! I just realize Mrs. Lonesome might not like you peeling tape with someone else.
Well, gee golly, a scotch tape roll it’s a mini Van de Graaff generator.
X-rays do not originate from the nucleus.
I prolly shoulda been a scientist...
FMCDH(BITS)
Great, now we’re going to need an MSDS for it.
Put the tape on a hairy back and pull it off very quickly.The ensuing screams emit a high decible which causes x-rays to be emitted from................
Do I win the Nobel?
I want to know too! :) What can you do with Vick’s?
I’m peeling with laughter right now. Are you Scotch or did you marry out of the clan?
Ah, irony.... you do understand the difference between visble light and X-rays, don't you?
Electrons in S- and P- orbitals?
I prolly shoulda been a scientist...
Or a Scientologist
I'm thinking EOD teams could get some mileage out of this...they already employ some small, lightweight X-ray equipment...this may be a big improvement...
>Don’t do it in a vacuum or you will die before you even get to pull the tape. Five minutes in a vacuum is rough!
Good thing I took another look at this thread ...I was just getting the over size bell jar ready!
The first few times I souped film after this “rip off” technique, it was interesting to view the spark image left on the film. It just became faster to either cut at the spool, or tear.
I agree five minutes in a vacuum is tough, just imagine spending about 10 years in one ... we can thank the MSM for that.
Very worrisome - my son uses so much scotch tape on various projects that I bought stock in 3M! ;-)
Wow, another old 35mm film guy? I remember seeing the exposure from the sparks, too!
I guess I better wear a lead apron when I wrap Christmas presents.
Well, I’d rather not think so, but maybe the time machine will work better in the bell jar. Oh that’s it, the time machine just needs a vacuum pump!
Sparky needs a bell jar! ... sorry just testing tag lines.
But yes, still have some KB-14 left in the freezer (hint, now called KB-25) Hard to beat an old style emulsion in Xtol, via a lens system of old Leitz glass.
Like the slow films so I can shoot from wide open to maybe f:5
These days printing via a Leafscan45 then transfer to slightly newer computer to print with carbon inks.
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