Making your own "X-ray Photographs"

January 2, 2008 10:48 AM

X-Ray Photography Made Easy! Have some radioactive minerals and a Polaroid? Here's a fun little project you can develop at home.
posted by usedwigs (12 comments total)

That was fascinating, particularly with the attempts to image biological samples.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:31 AM on January 2, 2008

All ionization type smoke detectors contain a tiny plating of the radioisotope Americium-241. It is against federal law to tamper with a smoke detector in an attempt to expose the radioactive source. No usable amount of radioactivity can be detected on film without tampering so cross this source off your list.

Boo!
posted by Artw at 11:39 AM on January 2, 2008

What could possibly go wrong?

That said, I'm all about DIY/citizen science. But I think I'll pass on this one. I mean, Polaroids? Ew.
posted by DU at 11:42 AM on January 2, 2008

So I knew about red fiestaware being radioactive, but I'd not heard of Uranium Glass. Some of it is actually kind of cool.
posted by Artw at 11:58 AM on January 2, 2008

What I've learned at MetaFilter today: how to remove all the safety guards from power tools and send them flying down a rickety wooden track. On fire. And now how to play with radiation exposure at home.

Got any insurance on this jalopy, Matt?
posted by pracowity at 12:22 PM on January 2, 2008 [2 favorites]

artw's reference to americium in smoke detectors reminded me of the radioactive boy scout.
posted by bruce at 12:34 PM on January 2, 2008

Well, you could probably safely experiment with a glow-in-the-dark wristwatch or compass; although that'd be pretty limited, it ought to be safe...
posted by pax digita at 12:38 PM on January 2, 2008

pracowity: Which FPP is the one with the power tools? Because that sounds like something I'd like to learn.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 12:44 PM on January 2, 2008

> Which FPP is the one with the power tools?

45 things you can learn online for free
posted by pracowity at 12:47 PM on January 2, 2008

That's exactly what we need: Radioactive power tools.
posted by Artw at 1:25 PM on January 2, 2008

What could possibly go wrong?

I said that once. But allow me to let you in on a little secret: when you are dealing with angry monkeys, who have been fed a constant stream of violent videos, death metal, and crystal-meth, who are now in possession of the contents of your armory and very close to figuring out the code to the blast door key-pads, it's not the phrase your minions want to hear.

Just by way of an observation.
posted by quin at 2:19 PM on January 2, 2008

Years ago I got hold of book from the 1960s called 'The Amateur Scientist - Projects From The Scientific American'. Among many of the fun sounding activities it includes 'An inexpensive X-Ray Machine' ('From an old radio tube, some copper wire and other inexpensive materials... you can construct a machine that will take good pictures through an inch of wood')

It does however ever warn you that it can interfere with your neighbours television signals and you need a lead apron to operate it so I'm obviously never tried to build it. Well that, and not wanting to end up looking like David Hahn...
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 10:02 AM on January 3, 2008