Magic marker monitors malicious movements
Monitoring troop movements could be made much easier with the introduction of a luminous chemical which works like a gigantic magic marker. German chemical company, Lanxess, have developed a product called Rapidogen, which is invisible to the naked eye, but glows under UV light. Changes to terrain the size of a postcard can be detected using a laser-based monitoring system from a distance of 100m, in a helicopter for example.
The new chemical could soon be available as a tool for security, Marina Murphy reports in Chemistry & Industry, the magazine of the SCI. It can be sprayed over airports, railways, supply pipelines and even nuclear power plants. The system has already been tested by the German military at Luneburg Heath.
The principle could also be used as a safety measure for the space shuttle, for example, as problems, such as missing tiles, can be checked quickly. The system may also have a role in detecting preparations for terrorist attacks, or to find evidence of sabotage on roads or railway lines.
The chemical, which is resistant to rain, can stick to a surface for up to three months. It is a photochemical indicator which is slowly broken down by sunlight, with a built in timer causing luminosity to decrease over time. A spokesperson from Lanxess said: “We have had a great deal of interest in our invention and we are currently holding a number of talks”.
More information is available:
Contact: Lisa Richards SCI Press Office on Tel: +44 (0) 20 7598 1548 (M) +44 (0)7791 688784 or Email: press@soci.org
About Chemistry & Industry
Chemistry & Industry magazine from SCI delivers news and comment from the interface between science and business. As well as covering industry and science, it focuses on developments that will be of significant commercial interest in five- to ten-years time. Published twice-monthly and free to SCI Members, it also carries authoritative features and reviews. Opinion-formers worldwide respect Chemistry & Industry for its independent insight.
About SCI
SCI is a unique international forum where science meets business on independent, impartial ground. Anyone can join, and the Society offers a chance to share information between sectors as diverse as food and agriculture, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, environmental science and safety. As well as publishing new research and running events, SCI has a growing database of member specialists who can give background information on a wide range of scientific issues.
Originally established in 1881, SCI is a registered charity with members in over 70 countries.
Media Contact
All latest news from the category: Life Sciences and Chemistry
Articles and reports from the Life Sciences and chemistry area deal with applied and basic research into modern biology, chemistry and human medicine.
Valuable information can be found on a range of life sciences fields including bacteriology, biochemistry, bionics, bioinformatics, biophysics, biotechnology, genetics, geobotany, human biology, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biology, cellular biology, zoology, bioinorganic chemistry, microchemistry and environmental chemistry.
Newest articles
Combatting disruptive ‘noise’ in quantum communication
In a significant milestone for quantum communication technology, an experiment has demonstrated how networks can be leveraged to combat disruptive ‘noise’ in quantum communications. The international effort led by researchers…
Stretchable quantum dot display
Intrinsically stretchable quantum dot-based light-emitting diodes achieved record-breaking performance. A team of South Korean scientists led by Professor KIM Dae-Hyeong of the Center for Nanoparticle Research within the Institute for…
Internet can achieve quantum speed with light saved as sound
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen’s Niels Bohr Institute have developed a new way to create quantum memory: A small drum can store data sent with light in its sonic…
