Analytical Chemistry
Oct. 14th, 2010 05:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
puzzle_meBack when I was in college, one of the things that got me interested in analytical chemistry was this news piece:
I read that story over winter break my junior year, and ended up writing a paper about airport scanning technology for my instrumental analysis class the following semester. I know that everyone thinks any additional gadget in the airport security line is just one more p.i.t.a., but I'm always totally fascinated by any new airport technology. I stand in line and watch everyone else and try to figure out what's going on chemically and analytically inside of whatever shiny box they've rolled out.
Which is why I like seeing new articles about what the next shiny box is going to be:
New scanner aims to make liquids on planes safer
MRI for shampoo bottles!
Security scanners at a major British airport are being confused by Christmas puddings packed in suitcases.
Hundreds of holidaymakers jetting off for the festive season in the sun have packed the Christmas treats into their luggage.
But Manchester Airport's £14m security scanner system cannot tell the difference between the pudding mix and deadly explosives such as Semtex.
Security officers have been forced to examine hundreds of bags before allowing them onto aircraft.
An airport spokesman said: "The security system is designed to detect organic matter like Semtex, and Christmas puddings have an unusual density which alerts the system.
"The system is simply doing its job and doing it extremely well. It isn't causing any inconvenience or delays to passengers."
Manchester Airport has more scanning machines that any other in the world but Christmas puddings were not one of the many items used to test the equipment when it was installed.
I read that story over winter break my junior year, and ended up writing a paper about airport scanning technology for my instrumental analysis class the following semester. I know that everyone thinks any additional gadget in the airport security line is just one more p.i.t.a., but I'm always totally fascinated by any new airport technology. I stand in line and watch everyone else and try to figure out what's going on chemically and analytically inside of whatever shiny box they've rolled out.
Which is why I like seeing new articles about what the next shiny box is going to be:
New scanner aims to make liquids on planes safer
MRI for shampoo bottles!
