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Super-Sensitive Spray-On Explosive Detector

Posted by kdawson on from the pssssst-bang dept.

esocid writes "US scientists have designed a new spray-on explosive detector sensitive enough to detect just a billionth of a gram of (nitrogen-containing) explosive. After treatment, the explosive glows blue under UV light, making the detector perfect for use in the field. The silafluorene-fluorene copolymer can detect explosives at much lower levels than existing systems because it detects particles instead of explosive vapors, and is able to show the difference between nitrate esters (trinitroglycerin) and nitroaromatic explosives (TNT). The team is currently working on a similar system to detect peroxide-based explosives and say they hope to be able to investigate perchlorates and organic nitrates, too."

8 of 154 comments (clear)

  1. This Just In... by omnichad · · Score: 4, Funny

    Explosive material found on every bedsheet of every hotel in America!

  2. Fun airport prank by iminplaya · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sprinkle peroxide on everybody's luggage.

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    What?
  3. Re:Won't this creat a lot of false positives? by argent · · Score: 2, Funny

    I thought cocaine could only blow your mind. It's explosive too?

  4. Bah, why reinvent the wheel? by Chris+Burke · · Score: 4, Funny

    A spray-on explosives detector already exists. Here's a picture of it in action in a field situation where explosives may have been present.

    That one has a few negative side effects, though... Maybe this new one improves on them? That'd probably be helpful in airports.

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    The enemies of Democracy are
  5. Re:Won't this creat a lot of false positives? by redxxx · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ask Richard Pryor.

  6. Re:Nitrogen by dugjohnson · · Score: 3, Funny

    The article isn't terribly specific about which nitrogen compounds react to the spray, only providing a couple of examples. If I worked in my garden 5 days before a flight, am I going to get Tazed by TSA because I didn't eliminate every last speck of fertilizer from my clothes? There, fixed your question for ya. You're welcome! There, fixed your welcome for you. No, no, it was my pleasure.
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    My brain is overly lubricated
  7. And... by actionbastard · · Score: 4, Funny

    It has a fresh pine scent!

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    Sig this!
  8. It's a fiendish trick I tell you. by Better.Safe.Than.Sor · · Score: 2, Funny

    In a month anyone NOT detectable by this absurd theater will be assumed to be a no-good-nik because they DON'T set it off.

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    It's all history, man. -anon