Liquid test
October 21, 2009
Imagine a world where airport security officials could care less if your hand luggage contained a bottle of water or red wine or perfume.
Scientists at the Juelich research center in western Germany have developed a prototype device that can identify explosive ingredients "in a fraction of a second." The discovery, if put to use in airports, could allow security officials to quickly distinguish between liquid explosives and harmless hand lotions.
Knut Urban, director of the research center, said the new method is significantly faster and more reliable than previous attempts to identify liquids. The method analyzes liquids using a broad spectrum of electromagnetic waves that provide a detailed molecular "fingerprint" of the fluid.
From prototype to product
It will still take some time before Juelich scientists find a partner to help turn the prototype into a tool which can be used in airports, a spokeswoman said. Scientists are skeptical that the Juelich discovery, or any other device, will be ready by 2012. That deadline was set by the European Commission, which wants to put a routine dangerous liquids identification system into place at all larger airports.
Large amounts of liquids have been banned from airplane hand luggage since 2006, when British authorities uncovered a plot to blow up planes flying over the Atlantic Ocean using liquid explosives. Three British men were convicted last month for their involvement in the plot.
th/AFP/AP
Editor: Chuck Penfold