Scientists Build X-Ray Generator out of Scotch Tape

UCLA researchers have found that peeling ordinary Scotch Tape in a vacuum produces enough X-ray radiation to image your finger on ordinary x-ray film.

According to a report published in the science journal, Nature, Researchers at UCLA have discovered that unwinding Scotch Tape at a rate of five centimeters per second produces enough x-Ray radiation to image your finger. Don’t worry though, Scotch Tape only produces x-rays when it’s unwound in a vacuum. The researchers used a reel to reel unwinding device to peel the tape while placing one finger over the tape. Above the tape they placed ordinary x-ray film of the kind used by dentists, like the little square that they place in your mouth when they x-ray your teeth. When developed, the film shows an image of the finger. The team from UCLA claim that they can produce 50 kilovolt x-rays by just peeling Scotch Tape at a rate of five centimeters per second (about 1.9 inches/ second). You can watch the entire Nature video here. Using small vacuum cylinders with unwinding mechanisms and a roll of tape, they theorize that it is possible to build small, inexpensive x-ray machines for use in developing countries where electricity and capital to buy big, expensive x-ray generators is hard to come by. Lead researcher and physicist Seth Putterman and his team are now researching different adhesives and other materials to find out which will produce the most x-ray radiation. What’s more amazing, is that the ability to produce significant amounts of x-rays using tape was first postulated in the 1950’s. Finally, some 50 years later, someone has finally taken the initiative to try it and turn fancy theory into a practical device with real benefits for real people. Of course, by patenting the devices and materials, the UCLA team will likely generate millions of dollars in addition to all the x-rays that they generate.