DIY Polonium detector makes barhopping safer

Considering that Polonium has been the poison of choice in a number of high-profile cases, tinkerers who tend to spend some serious time enjoying themselves at the local pub may want to invest some time building one of these. The homegrown Polonium Pen doesn't require a whole lot of hardware -- just two darlington transistors, a LED, homemade ion chamber, one or two resistors, a battery and a power switch -- and it allows the owner to hold it over their drink and watch for it to light up. Should the LED turn on, simply pass on the beverage, exit as soon as humanly possible and figure out why in the world someone in the mob wants you to vanish. Hit the read link for the full-blown how-to guide.

[Via HackADay]

[David @ Dec 1st 2007 2:26AM]

A must for all former KGB agents!!!

[Superman999 @ Dec 1st 2007 2:28AM]

Don't you mean former KGB spies?

[Ryan Worrell @ Dec 1st 2007 2:39AM]

Old News!!!!!

This was on hack-a-day days ago. Try to keep up engadget!

[Daniel @ Dec 1st 2007 3:00AM]

I saw it on hack-a-day a couple days ago, but oddly enough I wasn't interested in it until I saw Engadget's write-up on it.

So, late or not, thanks Engadget :D

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Dec 1st 2007 7:11PM]

@Ryan Worrell

Not everyone reads Hack-a-Day daily. Engadget's reporting on this detector is the first encounter most of us have had of this exciting news. Furthermore, it's getting a little bit old hearing some of you bash engadget for the sake of having someone to beat on; so beat on your self.... get a life.

[Nathan @ Dec 2nd 2007 6:05PM]

For everyone who replies to stories like this all I see is Kristin Wiig's SNL character Penelope when you do this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TanQZd6u_KA

[Aaron B @ Dec 1st 2007 3:21AM]

Why not just get yourself a geiger counter? save the hassle

[Reader @ Dec 1st 2007 3:20AM]

First thing that came to mind when seeing this was the novel Dune.

[Russell @ Dec 1st 2007 3:23AM]

How are you supposed to test it? Just go down to the hardware store and pick up a bit of polonium?

[Randomness @ Dec 1st 2007 3:27AM]

Try Amazon, they do carry Uranium Ore after all.... http://www.amazon.com/Uranium-Ore/dp/B000796XXM

[Reader @ Dec 1st 2007 3:34AM]

"Customers Who Bought Items Like This Also Bought:
-Ultimate Anal Douche Hygienic System easy to clean Rectal Syringe
-Anal Douche Rectal Syringe Easy to Use and Clean"

Nice.

[etherealstrife @ Dec 1st 2007 3:46AM]

RTFA:
"The prototype will light up brightly when held near the Americium bit in a smoke detector's ion chamber and a polonium-laced drink will easily produce the same reaction."

[Darkest Daze @ Dec 1st 2007 5:44AM]

@etherealstrife:
Talk about a kill-joy. Someone needs to lighten up and laugh a little.

I'm still more intrigued in what kind of super-villains we have now-a-days. If they need to pick up a mouse trap, anal douche, and thongs along with their Uranium Ore, how threatening are they really?

[andyo @ Dec 1st 2007 8:06AM]

Nice, I never knew you could get your porn at Amazon!

[m @ Dec 1st 2007 2:19PM]

you absolutely must follow the amazon link, and read the user reviews. it's like a little piece of engadget.

[Tristan @ Dec 1st 2007 2:01PM]

Review from Chris: "I have to admit, I've tried many different power sources for my orbiting satellite death beam, and nothing does it like good old U-238. If you've never held an entire nation hostage for your maniacal whims (I always ask for my ransom in kittens), then you haven't lived yet. And this can make it happen!

It's also a wonderful dessert topping. A little of this on your ice cream and the kids will just scream and scream and scream...."

[Technex @ Dec 1st 2007 3:01PM]

Randomness you have just posted the most funny comment ever... If that turned up at my doorstep I would kick it away, pretty darn fast...

"Customers also brought..." Good god, who are those people?!?

[aguiluz @ Dec 1st 2007 11:20PM]

Me theenk taht thay pout a beet of uraeneyoom in taht dawche and steek eit taw thair batt.

(Translation: I think they put a bit of uranium in that douche and stick it to their butt.)

[skhawaja @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:36AM]

@ Tristan

i was laughing maniacally at the dessert topping line

[moondy @ Dec 1st 2007 5:59AM]

It might work for the first few drinks, but when you start getting smashed your gonna think the cool green light means 'go for it'.

[LondonConsultant @ Dec 1st 2007 6:13AM]

KGB order #37148: 20 Polonium Pens for covert determination of polonium sufficiency in weaponised herbal teas

[mark @ Dec 1st 2007 8:59AM]

useless without a calibration source

http://www.unitednuclear.com/isotopes.htm

[greymullet @ Dec 1st 2007 4:13PM]

Yes, because you wouldn't want it to go off if your drink gave off just the right amount of alpha particles, only if it gave off too many?

[Dick Rhee @ Dec 2nd 2007 1:27AM]

The only intentional polonium poisoning case I know of was the poisoning of Litvenko (some of his acquaintenances had trace amounts of Polonium on them, but it is thought that the only target was Litvenko himself). What are the other high profile cases?