March 21, 2008- With all the threat of terrorist attacks, especially since 9/11, it would be nice if there were a way that such threats could be detected by anyone. Well, it looks like this may actually be a possibility in the future. Researchers at Purdue University are teaming up with the state of Indianato create a system that would allow cell phone users to use their mobile phone as a radiation detector. The detection system circuitry that would have to be added to the cell phone circuit board would add very little bunk to the original design of any cell phone. Being able to detect such radiation would allow for detection of radioactive materials such as that used in radiological bombs and nuclear weapons.

“Dirty Bomb”

Cell phones are already loaded with features and functions such as global positioning that could easily be adapted to pin point the location of radioactive weapons from anywhere a cell phone detected the material. With such advanced alert, there would be more that could be done about the situation since we would know a terrorist attack was coming before the attack happened. Also, with millions and millions of cell phones in use within the United States (as well as other countries), there would be detection devices (the mobile phone) installed everywhere.

The most at risk areas that would best benefit from such an advanced warning system would be big cities. This system would create an ideal situation as far as detection goes: with such dense populations, it would be virtually impossible for a radioactive material to go undetected.

Source: News.uns.purdue.edu