ABC News upset more than a few apple carts last week when it announced it was able to sneak in some depleted uranium from Jakarta to see if it could fool customs. There actually hasn’t been as much as you would think about this in the news. Luckily, the Daily Show stepped in to tell us more about the details.
Daily Show On ABC News’ Depleted Uranium-Airport Security Experiment (Small – 8 MB)
The Daily Show (The best news on television.)
I am not too worried by the fact that ABC was able to ship depleted uranium into the US for two reasons:
1) its relatively harmless. The only way tohurt yourself with DU is to eat it or breath it. It is mostly an Alpha emitter (2neutrons and 2 protons) with the occasionally moderate energy Beta (a fast moving electron) and the occasional high energy Gamma (high energy photon) The alpha particles are stopped by pieces of paper, the Beta will be stopped by metal or a foot of water and only the Gamma has significant penetrating ability. It has no use in weapons (other than weak radiological weapons) and you can buy it in antique shops (orange fiesta ware).
2) Its really hard to detect. More dangerous nuclear materials such as weapons grade plutonium or uranium emit many more high energy gamma rays and neutrons that are detectable outside of a container without more sophisticated shielding.
I am not too worried by the fact that ABC was able to ship depleted uranium into the US for two reasons:
1) its relatively harmless. The only way tohurt yourself with DU is to eat it or breath it. It is mostly an Alpha emitter (2neutrons and 2 protons) with the occasionally moderate energy Beta (a fast moving electron) and the occasional high energy Gamma (high energy photon) The alpha particles are stopped by pieces of paper, the Beta will be stopped by metal or a foot of water and only the Gamma has significant penetrating ability. It has no use in weapons (other than weak radiological weapons) and you can buy it in antique shops (orange fiesta ware).
2) Its really hard to detect. More dangerous nuclear materials such as weapons grade plutonium or uranium emit many more high energy gamma rays and neutrons that are detectable outside of a container without more sophisticated shielding.
The ending is definitely the best part on that one.