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Researchers Developing Cell Phone Radiation Detectors

by Lee Bains on September 29, 2008 at 03:41 PM



As folks have become increasingly concerned with the threat of chemical terrorism, research teams are rushing to develop radiation detectors that are as reliable, compact and inexpensive as possible. Newsweek reports that one group of Purdue University researchers may very well be at the vanguard of these developments, offering inexpensive radiation detectors that fit discreetly inside cell phones.

Known collectively as Distributed Nuclear Detection by Ubiquitous Cell Phone (catchy, isn't it?), these researchers have designed a computer chip that can detect radiation and -- through its host phone's cell transmitter -- communicate with other similarly equipped phones in order to closely approximate the radiation's location.

At present, lobbyists for the Purdue group are pushing for a federal mandate that would require all cell phone users and providers to implement the chips. As there are other groups developing similar technology (and although we find this proposal to be pretty 'Blade Runner'-esque), the Department of Homeland Security has promised to support the best candidate.

Our question is this: If cell phones come to detect harmful radiation, could it be that they'll just wind up detecting themselves? [From: Newsweek]

Tags: bomb, radiation, safety, security

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