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Smithsonian's super squeaky clean meteorite lab makes your room look like a pig sty (video)
If you think you're a clean freak, then you obviously haven't been to the Smithsonian Antarctic meteorite storage facility. See, when it isn't kicking up the video-games-as-art debate or showing off our future overlords, the Smithsonian also dabbles in the study of fallen rocks from space. So just exactly how clean is the Smithsonian's Meteorite Clean Room? Well, let's just say it's highly unlikely that you'll find microscopic traces of that peanut butter and jelly sandwich that the intern had for breakfast on any of the facility's 15,000 Antarctic meteorites. As shown in the behind-the-scenes video after the break, the research facility goes to great lengths to prevent sample contamination, from the surgical-looking staff prep to dry nitrogen storage. After all, no researcher would like to be the poor sap who studies a contaminated meteorite and mistakenly announces to the world that Mars not only had peanut butter but jelly as well.
Hyperspectral camera captures 1,000 colors, identifies contaminants
Putting our dinky point-and-shoots to shame, researchers at Tel Aviv University have created a hyperspectral HSR camera that detects more than 1,000 colors -- something that can be used to pinpoint contaminants or hazards in the environment. According to lead scientist Professor Ben-Dor, different elements produce different colors, helping researchers identify hazards or contaminated soil without being forced to bring samples back to the lab. It works as such: the sensor analyzes sunlight as it bounces off an object, which it then interprets. The shooter is so sensitive that it can read samples anywhere from 0.4 inches to 500 miles away, meaning it could operate from weather balloons or even one of these -- rendering Joseph and his amazing technicolor dreamcoat most jealous. Check out the full PR after the break.
