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Blue Crab Nanosensor to Fight Terrorism

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the crabs-have-joined-up-have-you dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "A substance found in crab shells called chitosan has very useful properties. For example, it has been used in bandages to stop bleeding. But now, researchers at the University of Maryland have used the chitosan from blue crabs living in Chesapeake Bay as a component of a nanoscale sensor system which could save many lives in the future. These blue crab nanosensors will be used to improve security in airports, hospitals and other public locations by detecting tiny amounts of explosives or chemicals in air and water. Read on for additional references and pictures of these blue crab nanosensors."

8 of 106 comments (clear)

  1. Fights Terrorists, Not Terrorism by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Oh, good, we've got nanosensors. Now we can stop overreacting maniacally to attacks, the wildfire of uncontrolled fear that destroys our freedom more than any bomb ever could. I can't wait to see our leaders appear on TV to tell us we can calm down.

    --

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    make install -not war

    1. Re:Fights Terrorists, Not Terrorism by QuantumFTL · · Score: 3, Insightful

      While I do agree that we, as a nation, have overreacted quite a bit to terrorist actions, that doesn't mean we shouldn't work on security precautions. Prevention and mitigation are two of our strongest weapons that can help people avoid the need to worry.

      On the other hand, I'm not all that convinced that these new security measures are really doing that much to make things like air travel safer. I know someone who accidentally took firecrackers in his pocket on an flight across the US once (after 9/11). The security people x-rayed and felt through all of his on-person possessions, but so much junk had accumulated in his pockets that they did not notice the presence of explosives.

    2. Re:Fights Terrorists, Not Terrorism by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "Cars kill more people than bombs do but a sensor to detect bombs is a good thing but speed cameras are evil. Guess which potentially saves more lives?"

      Ever wonder why they call it terrorism instead of mass-murder? 9-11 did a lot more damage than car crashes. The gubment's handling of terrorism is questionable, but the prioritization of it over car crashes is not nearly as black and white. Anti-terrorism (The intent, I mean, not 'The War Against Terror'...) is about more than just the saving of lives. Think about what the first week after 9-11 was like, then think about the year that followed. The fear, paranoia, and hardships that followed were incalcuable. There's a reason it's not swept under the rug until car crashes are dealt with. Think about it.

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    3. Re:Fights Terrorists, Not Terrorism by vadim_t · · Score: 2, Insightful

      And whose fault was the paranoia?

      Look, I travelled every day to go to class on one of the lines where a train blew up in Madrid, only fortunately in the afternoon instead of the morning. I had a friend personally present there, and a classmate of mine died there.

      But you know what I did next day? I went to class just like everybody else. I certainly wasn't demanding useless measures to be taken to protect me against something against which no protection is possible, and neither was most of the country.

      As a matter of fact, to go to work I have to cross a dangerous road where sometimes the traffic lights *aren't working*. I'm much more likely to be killed by a truck on that road than by a bomb. There you have one place where spending some money would be actually useful.

  2. "Could" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful
    ...which could save many lives in the future. These blue crab nanosensors will be used to improve security...

    Ah yes, "could" - what a wonderful word. It "could" be that bad people will be tortured for all eternity after they die. Or, it "could" be that good people will be tortured for all eternity after they die.

    "Could" is a word of so many possibilities. It is totaly unlike its lesser cousin, the word "will", - as in "Thousands of people will die of poverty in the next few hours". Yes, let's focus on what could happen rather than what is happening.

  3. Re:And another species goes extinct... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Are you kidding? This (and many other useful things crabs give us) will ensure their survival, just like cows, sheep, chickens, dogs, giant pandas, etc. usefulness ensures their survival.

  4. Funny Story by aXis100 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    No matter how good the sensor technology is, you still have humans driving the system.

    A funny example is an industrial town I fly to on a regular basis. Most of the people work in the mines, where explosives can be a common part of many poeples jobs. When explosives traces are regularly detected at the airport explosives scan, their first question is "Have you been on a mine site recently?" Obviously 99% of people say yes, and are let through without question.

    What is the point? We're running around banning knitting needles and letter openers and it makes no fucking difference.

  5. Cool... by aadvancedGIR · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Many exhausts of explosive or dangerous chemicals can also be generated by normal activities of janitors, construction workers, farmers, or anyone smoking. I wish them good luck spending millions investigating all those false positives.