Posted on 10/28/2008 10:04:14 PM PDT by neverdem
Associated Press
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 said.
"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...
(Excerpt) Read more at dsc.discovery.com ...
“If you’re going to peel tape in a vacuum, you should be extra careful,” he said, “as it is difficult to breath”.
Bump for tomorrow.
Who died and appointed you editor, newby? This could have interesting medical and military applications, areas of government interest.
If it was a vacuum, maybe:
Why do Wint-O-Green Life Savers spark in the dark?
If I understand it correctly, electrons are emitted in either case. But, in the presence of air, the electrons collide with nitrogen molecules, which bleed off the resulting energy in the form of (mostly ultraviolet) light.
In a vacuum, there's no collision with nitrogen molecules. When the electrons hit the tape instead, they just slow down -- emitting the energy in the form of x-rays.
I guess it depends on what the electrons from the crushed candy hit, if in a vacuum, and what happens after the collision.
So my improved tinfoil hat with Scotch Tape didn’t really keep out those evil X-Rays? Well, just damn.
Just when I was getting use to the idea of buying a hybrid vehicle, this new fangle technology comes around and messes it all up!
OH I see the angle here.....Under Universal health care every citizen will be given a roll of scotch tape upon entering the ER?? Here ya go lets take a look at that broken leg...hmmm better get another roll of tape..lol
I don’t think that you’ve been thanked enough for your posts, so thanks!
in similar news, boston won again tonight. back to back 1-0 shutouts by thomas.
My head glows after all the scotch tape Ive had on it.
I LIKE TURTLES!
Try cracking Ice cube trays in the dark, I’ve seen flashes
occur then.
No these aren’t flashbacks, those are different...
You're quite welcome. I don't believe you, cabojoe, are on any of my lists, so I appreciate your thanks more than you might think. I find the level of scientific ignorance in the general population and our politicians appalling. So, I'm just trying to do something to remedy that. Folks can find my history of posts here. It's heavy on politics.
I always read them.
Energy crisis solved.
In Space, nobody can hear you scream.
I always read them.
You're also very welcome. We have had our differences on at least one thread, IIRC. Thank you for the compliment.
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