Forget weather-proof memory cards, let's try "nuke-able"

The folks at e-Fotografija have had enough of SDHC speed tests, and wanted to take things to the next level. After some extreme temperature tests (ranging from -30°C to +85°C) which seemed to do little to knock the cards out of commission -- though Kodak card did have to return to room temperature before restarting, while the industrial-grade ATP card kept right on humming -- the cards were blasted with Gamma radiation to really get the measure of the things. Sadly, no strange half-man, half-SD card creatures were created in the process, and in fact, high doses of radiation did absolutely nothing to impact the cards, meaning the relatively weak level of airport X-ray radiation should do nothing to your stash of pictures stored on these sturdy memory cards. Tune in next weak, when we'll find out if SD cards can pass through the core of the earth unscathed.

[Via PhotographyBLOG]

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 22nd 2007 12:41AM]

interesting. Will be good for us people in arizona with the extreamly hot heat.

[Richard Posted Mar 21st 2007 7:42PM]

Tune in next what?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 21st 2007 7:45PM]

...Weak. I guess thats some sort of new time frame.

[tbonet Posted Mar 21st 2007 8:12PM]

Whoever wrote that seems to have forgotten that memory cards haven't really ever been affected by x-ray machines. What about a nuclear blast?

I can't believe the Kodak card had to warm up before it worked. Anything that is going to be outside should be able to work down to 0F and up to 120F.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 6th 2007 8:16AM]

screw gamma radiation, give me a baseball bat

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 21st 2007 9:19PM]

Gamma radiation is different than x-ray radiation, so it wouldn't necessarily affect the card the same way, though neither type of radiation SHOULD affect the card anyways.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 22nd 2007 8:04AM]

how about seeing if its microwave safe?

[anaknipedro Posted Mar 21st 2007 11:42PM]

The picture is quite deceiving. Only about 5 mRem/year are allowed to escape the perimeter of a nuclear power plant. On the other hand, by living in Denver, the Mile High City, one would be exposed to an additional 150 mRem/year. The article says the card was exposed to gamma radiation, so I am assuming the picture is not of the actual tests. FYI: flight attendants are exposed to more radiation yearly than a nuclear power plant worker. Thought you all might be interested.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 21st 2007 11:31PM]

How about over time? How long will the data remain on the card? Is this possibly a long term data retention device?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 21st 2007 11:21PM]

Nuke-able? Let's see it take a thermal pulse hotter than the sun, then I'll call it nuke-able.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 22nd 2007 12:59AM]

...and yet I have had sd cards corrupt themselves in regular use, and another which dropped from waist level become a small mini-coaster (almost 2 Gigs of information lost). Back up early back up often...

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 21st 2007 11:44PM]

...and yet I have had sd cards corrupt themselves in regular use, and another which dropped from waist level become a small mini-coaster (almost 2 Gigs of information lost). Back up early back up often...

[stridermt2k Posted Mar 22nd 2007 12:15AM]

If they stop 40% of Neutrinos then they're probably made of Scrith.

Thanks Larry!

[Harlo Posted Mar 22nd 2007 8:47AM]

Just don't fill me to capacity. You wouldn't like me when I'm full.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 22nd 2007 12:29PM]

I CAN SAY MY MEMORY CARDS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY X-RAY MACHINES AT THE AIRPORT. I took two two pictures and the card had no room left on the 1gb sd card. I got down to the group, transfered the pictures, formated the card, and the problem was cleared. It was still a big hassle though.

[bluemonq Posted Mar 22nd 2007 6:23PM]

But... will it blend? That is the question.

[(Unverified) Posted May 12th 2007 12:24PM]

I'm not the fanboy type, but my 1GB ATP SD card has gone through xray checks, strong magnetic fields (dont ask), the washer, and the dryer with no problems. ATP = Steel Vault.