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Nanoparticles Used To Create Thermal 'Barcodes'
Rambo Tribble (1273454) writes 'Researchers from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in Massachusetts, have developed nanoparticles with distinct melting points, which they suggest be used as forensic "barcodes" to identify the origins and integrity of things such as explosives and currency [PDF]. To demonstrate the technique, the researchers used the explosive, TNT, as a test case. Commenting on the viability of the approach, researcher Dr Ming Su said, 'The nanoparticle does not participate in any chemical reaction, and it will not effect the function of the existing object. The only thing it will do is to provide a thermal signature.' He added, 'Nanoparticles are so small, they can be put into any objects.' The BBC has more approachable coverage.'
thanks for helping enable the surveillance state to ratchet things up a notch, WPI. why can't you go back to making polywater, like back in the 70s?
So you make your own.
---- Booth was a patriot ----
Carbon + Sulphur + Salt Peter, right?
Hey, if the Chinese could figure it out 2000 years ago...
An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
The Chinese invented many many things.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Didn't mean to disparage the Chinese, was pointing out that it's not like gunpowder is some newfangled technology that's easy to regulate and control.
Side note - the mechanical clock in the second link is pretty cool, I'd love to see someone recreate it.
An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
Yeah, I'm seeing the same thing - and am not posting as AC. But regardless of whether I check the No ads box or not, I keep seeing the Ads. What's more - I don't have Flash installed on my laptop under either IE or FF (and do not have Chrome) and yet, I'm seeing not just ads, but animated ads.
Has /. decided to disable the ad disabling mechanism for those who don't switch to beta?
The idea is interesting, but once the particle has been melted, I assume that it can't be verified again. If that's the case then no matter how many of these tagging particles are added to a given object, it can only be verified a finite number of times.
Personally I'd be more concerned about the explosion that released the nanoparticles, rather than the nanoparticles themselves.
And worthless if that stuff for IDing sources of explosive components is anything to go on (which I'm not even sure if this isn't the same stuff just with an attempt at a wider sell...). It becomes useless when it eventually gets everywhere, aside from potential cellular toxicity.
"A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."
I'm seeing the same thing.
Slashfag is not a word you moron. Learn to spell.