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Camera Flashes Kill Nanotubes

Posted by Hemos on from the smile-pretty-mr.-carbon-KA-WHAM dept.

Fnordmonger writes "New Scientist is running a story claiming that flash photography can cause nanotubes to explode. Basically , the carbon absorbs heat, which cannot be dissipated. Instead, the energy is released in an explosion. There is a cool video there of the stuff going off."

23 of 209 comments (clear)

  1. Space Elevator? by Matey-O · · Score: 5, Funny

    So we've build this elevator to space....but nobody can take a picture of it. :P

    --
    "Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus."
    1. Re:Space Elevator? by cei · · Score: 2, Funny

      "You must be THIS thin to ride this ride..."

      --
      This sig intentionally left justified.
  2. so much for my futuristic rave by Transient0 · · Score: 2, Funny

    how am i supposed to serve MP3s off of my nano-computer with all those strobe lights going all the time?

    dammit!

    Ohhh...

    upon actually reading the article(something i sometimes do before i post...) i see that they are considering taking advantage of this for the construction of uber-cool nono-circuits....

    so maybe my strobe lights can be PART of my MP3 disco computer... cool. it's a great time to be alive!

    --
    lysergically yours
    1. Re:so much for my futuristic rave by MaxVlast · · Score: 2, Funny

      Use ogg. I hear it doesn't explode. d00d.

      --
      There should be a moratorium on the use of the apostrophe.
      Max V.
      NeXTMail/MIME Mail welcome
  3. About Other Nanotech Applications? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Can it destroy nanorobots that the government put in my body against my will?

  4. new ignition source? by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Funny

    This could be a cool way to make a simple sealed emergency fire starting device for survival equipment companies...

    Think about it.. get a pile of wood and twigs, set device in middle press button, get away..

    Oh wait... a bic lighter might be a better idea...

    nevermind

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  5. Building Materials by yintercept · · Score: 3, Funny

    Researchers around the world are exploring the potential that carbon nanotubes could have for a wide range of super-strong materials and nanoscale circuits.

    I can see the highway dept completing their fancy new bridge across the Tacoma Narrows with super strong carbon nanotubes. A week after opening, Priscilla wants a picture of her two darling munchkins standing with the beautiful black bridge. She snaps a photo...and BAM!!! the whole thing goes up in smoke.

    1. Re:Building Materials by seann · · Score: 1, Funny

      I'm reminded of Super Metroid, when your in Maridia and you set a super grenade to explode in the right tube.
      *MEerrrroooeeaaaaaaaaaaa*
      *samus gets up*
      *looks left*
      *looks right*
      *looks up*
      *creek... creeeek.. creek creek creek creek SMASHHHHHH*
      *glass dangles all around and the tube's destroyed*

      --
      I'm a big retard who forgot to log out of Slashdot on Mike's computer! LOOK AT ME.
  6. Re:Ouch, hope NASA knows this by zephc · · Score: 2, Funny

    hell, in space, ANY direct sunlight will do it. Of course, the trick is to then coat the space elevator with some kind of paint. Perhaps Dorito, Pepsi and Duracell ads painted up and down the sides of the elevator will bring in the needed revenue

    --
    "I would say that 99 per cent of what my father has written about his own life is false." - L. Ron Hubbard Jr.
  7. Not as bad as it sounds by Athyra · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is a more positive development than the headline implies. First, since double-layer nanotubes won't break, they now know how to keep them working if needed, and second, this now allows them to have a trigger action to set things in motion during complex sequences.

    Personally, I'd like to see Milton Bradley take advantage of this and update Mousetrap. Turning the crank woud now release the ball, causing the little man to land on the flash button, breaking the nanotube and releasing the mousetrap. Of course, setup would just suck. :-)

  8. Obligatory Simpsons by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    This isn't news. Bart found this out when he visited Itchy and Scratchy Land and fought robots powered by nanotubes

  9. Nanotubes by cigarky · · Score: 3, Funny

    Thank God, the next time Wil Wheaton makes another nano-lifeform there will be a way to defeat it ;)

    --
    You shank my Jengaship!
  10. Don't worry, I'm with the press by return+42 · · Score: 2, Funny
    Overheard as a press photographer prepares to shoot the new, carbon-fiber bridge:

    "This'll make a great blow-up!"

  11. Bad news... by tps12 · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...for the nanomodelling industry.

    --

    Karma: Good (despite my invention of the Karma: sig)
  12. Dexters Labratory by Odinson · · Score: 4, Funny
    "Dee Dee, what did I tell you about comming in here?"

    "Look Dexter, I got a new camera, isn't it cooooool??"

    *-FLASH-*

    "Dee Dee, You are a geeeniuuuuss!"

    --
    Novel theory: Modern Man evolved from psychopath
  13. One more reason... by Nindalf · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...that Disney is destined to rule the stars.

    I mean, look at their progression: Disney Land, Disney World...

    It's pretty clear where they're headed.

    "Please keep all parts of your body inside the vehicle at all times, for your own safety from moving parts and hard vacuum. No flash photography is permitted."

  14. Circa 2030 by Kibo · · Score: 5, Funny

    AMD's C4 Featuring a new nanotube superconducting core.

    Extream case mods have graduated from hobby to a high risk sport lauded in Mountain Dew commercials.

    --
    --Jimmy has fancy plans; and pants to match.
  15. Re:What's that? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Didn't know either huh?

  16. Nano warfare by lute3 · · Score: 2, Funny
    If this becomes the standard behavior for nano machines, then we might not need to build nanos for the purpose of destroying other nanos.. We can just put flash bulbs (conglomeration of LEDs might be even better) near all building entrances and perform a security sweep every X number of hours/days to flush nanos out that might have crept in.. Heck, it might become standard to flash lights all the time. That would be frickin annoying!

    Also, humans might need frequent "decontamination" by flashing lights (LEDs have been used for therapeutic benefit in today's technology--one example) into the body and then re-introducing the "good" nanos through a pill.

    Diamond Age Summary
    Diamond Age Review and audio sample

  17. Destroying Evidence by ackthpt · · Score: 2, Funny
    On an upcoming episode of Really Incredibly Difficult Mission:

    "Quick, destroy the evidence!"
    "How?"
    "Take a picture of it!"

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  18. Re:Not much of a story by casio282 · · Score: 3, Funny

    it's true. my walls are covered with studio portraiture of lumps of coal and graphite.

    --

    :wq
  19. No photos, please! by Hoi+Polloi · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can see it now...

    "Welcome to the Daytona Airshow! The newest, most advanced fighter in the world, with the first carbon nanotube body!"

    "Wooo! Quick, take a photo!"

    *FLASH*
    *FIZZLE*
    *CRASH*

    "Oh shit..."

    --
    It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning
  20. No more funny business by brer_rabbit · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hey mods: don't you think this article has enough comments marked *funny*? The signal to noise ratio -- even for slashdot -- is in the crapper. Maybe consider not modding stuff down that really isn't funny or better yet find something with real content to mod up.