The DHS's Latest Investment: Terahertz Laser Scanners 169
MrSeb writes "It seems like every time I set foot in an airport, there is some new machine I need to stand in, walk through, or put my shoes on. The argument can be made that much of this is security theater — an effort to just make things look safe. However, if a new kind of laser-based molecular scanner lives up to its promise and finds its way into airports as planned, it could actually make a difference. A company called Genia Photonics has developed a programmable picosecond laser that is capable of spotting trace amounts of a variety of substances. Genia claims that the system can detect explosives, chemical agents, and hazardous biological substances at up to 50 meters. This device relies on classic spectroscopy; just a very advanced form of it. In the case of Genia's scanner, it is using far-infrared radiation in the terahertz band. This is why the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is so keen on getting it into airports. Understandably, some are calling foul on the possible privacy concerns, but this technology is halfway to a Star Trek tricorder."
Oops (Score:5, Funny)
I should then quit smoking doobies prior to traveling. Bummer.
Re:Oops (Score:5, Funny)
possibly before posting too! :-)
In Other News (Score:5, Funny)
Poppyseed muffin sales have dropped to all time lows in the airport concourse. Terrorists suspected...
Re:Oops (Score:4, Funny)
Then I would never post anything...
Re:Dubai has this.. it's awesome. (Score:5, Funny)
So he walked over some?
I think the potheads would love this. They will start dumping shake at the entrence of the airport.
Re:Ridiculous (Score:4, Funny)
For fuck's sake, anyone who's read Make magazine could make an unmanned explosive drone by buying a quadropter from Brookstone and duct taping a bomb to it.
Take off from a backyard.
Technology will not be getting any harder in the future, folks.
The TSA: Keeping us safe from yesterday's threat, today.