Scotch tape surprises everyone by producing X-rays

As far as we're concerned, sticky tape is mostly just for out-there modding projects, but scientists have confirmed another use for it: X-rays. After hearing word of research in that direction by Soviet scientists in the 1950s, researchers at UCLA peeled scotch tape at 1.18 inches per second in a vacuum chamber and found that X-ray pulses were emitted by the process. A human thumb has already been successfully X-rayed by this technique, and if future investigation proceeds swimmingly, paramedics and aid workers operating off the grid might be able to do X-rays without bulky and dangerous nuclear technologies. We'll admit it -- we never saw scotch tape X-rays coming, but then, neither did you, right?

[Via Switched]

[Ben @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:36PM]

Wait, how do they get the X-ray then. I mean does the image show up on the tape of what?

[Baron @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:45PM]

No, they still need to use film to record the image. triboluminescence along those lines.

[Kamokazi @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:46PM]

X-ray film, just like in the hospital/doctor's office.

The big machine generates X-rays, the white metal plates mounted on a stand or placed under the table contain the film that catches the x-rays after they pass through your body.

[Flashpoint @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:47PM]

When tape is pulled off the roll, electrons make the jump between the roll and the strand of tape. When they slow down they emit X-rays.

BUT, this only occurs in a VACUUM.

You are safe so long as you aren't in a vacuum, which is hard for most of us to actually pull off unless we are astronaughts with rolls of tape in our pockets.

This is a great thing cause people without electricity could realisticly create X-rays of broken bones in children. My only worry is the amount of protection needed to keep from being sterilized.

[Hellaphunt @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:50PM]

Umm... by this, "... researchers at UCLA peeled scotch tape at 1.18 inches per second in a vacuum chamber and found that X-ray pulses were emitted by the process." Doesn't it mean that the radiation was emitted by the tape-peeling process?

[CraigJ @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:05PM]

I can't wait to try this inside my Dyson

[Craig B. @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:38PM]

There's a law office party somewhere tonight. I just hope 3M's defence gets to those cosmonauts fist.

[Electromodo @ Oct 23rd 2008 9:12PM]

@ Flashpoint

"...we are astronaughts..."

LOL at your misspeling, naughty astroboy! :)))

[Juaquin @ Oct 23rd 2008 11:53PM]

Won't it take at least some electricity to make a good vacuum? Don't think a handpump will be effective enough.

[BradS @ Oct 31st 2008 1:51PM]

Your handpump is busy doing something else...

[Nick Wood @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:38PM]

Tell me it's not the 1st of April....is it?
LOL

[Zelatio @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:18PM]

That's what I thought too! I was like LOLz wut?!

But seriously....I want to meet the Russian scientist who thought..."Hmmm, I bet X-Rays are emitted from Scotch tape when it is pulled from the roll..." I really, really want some of what he was smoking.

[Technex @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:42PM]

Agreed with both of you :D.

[Timerider @ Oct 23rd 2008 9:08PM]

Same here. I saw this on another site and thought it was a joke.

[tf @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:42PM]

In a related story.

Folding a piece of wax paper in a room lit with a green light bulb causes the effects of gravity to decrease by 18%.

[Colin Potter @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:45PM]

someone better get government funding for this ASAP

[Timerider @ Oct 23rd 2008 9:20PM]

The new space shuttle is now powered with the revolutionary new wax paper drive.

[eleefece @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:42PM]

WARNING!!!

omgduct-tapeXrays

PEWPEWPEW!!!

[maveric101 @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:44PM]

O_o

[anindividual @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:45PM]

I remember waaaay back in the pre-digital dark ages, we had to be careful opening film packets in the darkroom, because of blue sparks spoiling the unexposed stock. I used to assume it was just static electricity, but I guess I was just not clever enough to test it in a vacuum.

[Robot @ Oct 23rd 2008 8:21PM]

It was just static electricity.

[ED @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:45PM]

If McGuyver had only known...

[giuliop @ Oct 24th 2008 4:53AM]

If he only asked Chuck Norris...

[Erb @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:46PM]

IMA MAKE AN X-RAY GUN!

[CraigJ @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:48PM]

you're doing it wrong

[MarkS @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:47PM]

If pulling scotch tape off a roll causes X-Rays, you could probably microwave a Hungry Man dinner by pulling apart duct tape that folded back on itself.

[lorddshadow @ Oct 23rd 2008 8:19PM]

do you live in a vacuum?

[grifmx @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:48PM]

Those old x-ray glasses are not so far off!!!

[Steve @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:49PM]

So basically what they're saying is that if I put Scotch Tape over my glasses I'll have X-Ray vision?

[Samboini @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:02PM]

No. They aren't saying that at all.

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:12PM]

Who knows dude? It's sure worth trying.
You're lucky to have glasses.
Me, aint got even the scotch tape!

[Lars @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:55PM]

Even if you could see X-Rays (which you can't... just to be clear), you'd have to place the tape-peeling-in-a-vacuum device on the opposite side of whatever you were wanting to see through. Not on your glasses.

[giuliop @ Oct 24th 2008 11:06AM]

Yes. To better the effect, stick the tape directly on your eyes.

[Sachin @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:50PM]

isn't it a bit early for an april fools' story?

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:02PM]

Or a bit late?

This is the real deal, but was up on Reddit yesterday.

[engadget @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:51PM]

I occasionally use those nasal strips to help you breathe while you sleep and discovered one night that it gives of luminescence as you pull the backing off so I can quite believe this. (I just hope that's all they gave off and I haven't been sticking radioactive bits of plastic on my nose!)

[Clark H. @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:51PM]

No I didn't see it coming!
I didn't have my tape X-ray thingy yet!!

[hfm @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:52PM]

You'll know it works when you see construction workers on the streets with rolls of scotch tape fitted to some glasses ... HEY BABY!

[John @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:00PM]

i'm a construction worker. and you just offended me.

[Samboini @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:03PM]

Yep, I can confirm John is in fact a construction worker. Just look at his punctuation!

[hfm @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:10PM]

There are many, I might say, practically all of your co-workers and industry fellows who I have seen consistently offend women walking down the sidewalk. I don't think I've passed by any construction site and not witnessed it happening if a couple of ladies were also walking by.

It's almost like the french being losers to non-French speaking Americans.. I didn't want to believe it was true until I went to France and witnessed it myself.

[Joseph @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:56PM]

@hfm
It's one thing to rag on Construction workers...but to compare them to the french. have you no shame?

[BradS @ Oct 31st 2008 1:58PM]

Be careful offending construction workers, they can beat up your nerd ass. The French will just surrender to you.

[rickjamess04 @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:59PM]

I dont know who this McGuyver fellow is, but I think Angus MacGyver would be interested as well.

[rickjamess04 @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:00PM]

Do-eth, that was supposed to be for @ED

[Jon Doe. @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:02PM]

So my GF who scotch taped my nuts up last night.....I should be concerned......

OK that joke went nowhere....Sorry.

[Samboini @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:04PM]

http://thecraptastics.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/fail.jpg

[Joseph @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:54PM]

If by girlfriend you mean, right hand....then yes.

[Dave @ Oct 23rd 2008 9:37PM]

Come on, Joseph... How's he gonna scotch-tape his nuts with one hand? He probably used both hands.

[Frank @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:23PM]

Video on the tape:

http://www.nature.com/nature/videoarchive/x-rays/