Slashdot Mirror
Old Methods Used to Detect Liquid Explosives
Bain writes "According to Wired News, the UK fear of terrorists using liquid explosives could be dramatically reduced by the use of some very old tech. Recent events have seen passengers forced to pack only the barest of essentials into clear plastic bags and the restriction on all liquids force even mothers with young children to have to test bottled milk to prove that it isn't a dangerous liquid." From the article: "For a machine to detect explosives in liquid or solid form, it bombards an object with energy -- such as radio waves or neutrons -- and in seconds measures the reaction, a response that differs depending on the material's chemical properties. Software in the machine is programmed to alert screeners if it detects chemical signatures known to match those of dangerous materials. A key question, though, is whether this kind of detection system can realistically block terrorists from bringing seemingly innocuous liquids past security and combining them later to deadly effect."
"What the hell was that bang?!!!"
There's only one thing we need to remove from air travel: terrorists. It's not the gel explosive that blows up the plane, it's the nutcase that hits the detonator. If a person is hell-bent on destroying life, they will find a way, no matter what you ban in terms of physical objects. We just need to ban terrorists from flying on airplanes, and that would have the desired effect. Personally, I think detecting terrorists is a lot cheaper than detecting explosives anyhow.
1. You stop every person that has access to the plane, every person getting on the plane for any reason, etc. (already almost doing that)
2. Determine if they're a terrorist somehow. (??? step)
3. Success! No more plane bombings.
stuff |
FTA A major problem is that the view is so powerful that an individual's private parts can be seen
So the x-ray glasses advertised in comic magazines really do work. I was always wondering about that. How is this a problem?
Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
A key question, though, is whether this kind of detection system can realistically block terrorists from bringing seemingly innocuous liquids past security and combining them later to deadly effect.
It's simple. Have them mixed all the stuff together. If it goes BOOM, that's bad. If it doesn't, no problem.
If I'm a terrorist I'm not bringing any liquid on board. Just a carryon full of Mentos(you know the fresh maker). Then I'm ordering diet coke after diet coke. There is going to be lots of sticky passengers. FEAR ME!
"...with enough soap you can blow up just about anything."
Seriously.
The Southern Baptist Convention has creationism. On Slashdot, we have porn.
what is stopping them from having a breast/butt implant that is full of explosives instead of silicone??? detonating with a timer or remotely... (heh, thinking a titty twister would set it off?)
sig goes here!
Somebody who pitches a hissy fit over the term "redneck".