The AP Press just released the following:
WASHINGTON (June 10) - The U.S. government has arrested an alleged al Qaida terrorist who plotted to build and detonate a radiological ''dirty'' bomb, Attorney General John Ashcroft said Monday.
Ashcroft said Abdullah Al Mujahir was in the custody of the U.S. military and being treated as an enemy combatant, suggesting plans for the first military tribunal of an alleged terrorist.
What does this mean for you and me?
Tighter restrictions on radioisotopes.
If you buy the stuff keep all your receipts in case someone comes to visit.... documentation relieves goverment fears of evil intent.
Don't be shy ...be honest and complete... tell them exactly what it's for. It's not yet against the law to keep this stuff..but the day is young.
Never sell overseas and ask for ID when selling any of it.... xerox it.
Larry Leins
Physics Teacher
No More Radiation Jokes
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Tom Dressel
- Posts: 287
- Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2001 4:44 pm
- Real name:
Re: No More Radiation Jokes
Wow! This "Dirty Bomb" thing is all the rage on the Cable News Network tonight.
I wonder what ever happened to all those of geiger counters that the government stashed away in the millions of air raid shelters set up in public buildings throughout the country during the 50's and 60's. They could sure come in handy as a public safety assurance item now.
I supposed that all that stuff was sold for pennies on the doller to salvage dealers during the 80's and 90's and are just now showing up on E-Bay. (I bought two geiger counters last week).
I saw on CNN that the government is spending billions on advanced radiation detection technology research. Do you suppose that 40 years from now, as a result of todays scare, that that anyone interested in doing garage based IEC fusion research will be able to buy a hand held, runs on 2 AAA batteries, fast neutron detector on E-Bay for $25.00.
Tom Dressel
I wonder what ever happened to all those of geiger counters that the government stashed away in the millions of air raid shelters set up in public buildings throughout the country during the 50's and 60's. They could sure come in handy as a public safety assurance item now.
I supposed that all that stuff was sold for pennies on the doller to salvage dealers during the 80's and 90's and are just now showing up on E-Bay. (I bought two geiger counters last week).
I saw on CNN that the government is spending billions on advanced radiation detection technology research. Do you suppose that 40 years from now, as a result of todays scare, that that anyone interested in doing garage based IEC fusion research will be able to buy a hand held, runs on 2 AAA batteries, fast neutron detector on E-Bay for $25.00.
Tom Dressel
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Richard Hull
- Moderator
- Posts: 15032
- Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2001 9:44 am
- Real name: Richard Hull
Re: No More Radiation Jokes
Tom's humorous comments about the possibilties of cheap neutron detectors in future is well taken. Too bad that no post nuclear holocaust event or natural decay process emits neutrons so the need for a personal, survival, neutron detector is truly zero.
The atom jealously guards its neutrons and would rather throw out a large helium nucleus rather than give up its nuclear glue.
Richard Hull
P.S. For those informed sticklers who might chime in, Californium is not natural, nor is it a bomb product. RH
The atom jealously guards its neutrons and would rather throw out a large helium nucleus rather than give up its nuclear glue.
Richard Hull
P.S. For those informed sticklers who might chime in, Californium is not natural, nor is it a bomb product. RH
Progress may have been a good thing once, but it just went on too long. - Yogi Berra
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
The more complex the idea put forward by the poor amateur, the more likely it will never see embodiment
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
The more complex the idea put forward by the poor amateur, the more likely it will never see embodiment
Re: No More Radiation Jokes
> P.S. For those informed sticklers who might chime in, Californium is not natural, nor is it a bomb product. RH
IIRC, it's a transuranium isotope, and pretty much has to be created in an accelerator. Short half-life, and a really large neutron absorption cross section. Would make very small fission warhead (say, a small cannon shell)
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Richard Hester
- Posts: 1519
- Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2001 12:07 am
- Real name:
Re: No More Radiation Jokes
Commercial quantities of transuranics are manufactured in special high-flux reactors, as it takes multiple neutron captures for the higher transuranics. If they were still making them with accellerators, we couldn't afford to use Americium in smoke detectors.