Article

2007-01-26 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Georgian officials say they intercepted sale of bomb-grade uranium

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Posted by ryuge 2007-01-26 07:00|| || Front Page|| [6 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 He was carrying around 90% enriched uranium in plastic bags in his pockets? Is that even possible?

I know it's not as bad a plutonium (which also tends to explode when exposed to oxygen), but I would think this guy would have severe alpha radiation poisoning. Can anybody bring the science?

Posted by Mizzou Mafia 2007-01-26 08:10|| 2007-01-26 08:10|| Front Page Top

#2 covered yesterday, mizzou. Seems that most here say that the alpha particles could be blocked by just some simple shielding (plastic bag enough?).

Posted by BA 2007-01-26 10:38|| 2007-01-26 10:38|| Front Page Top

#3 I went back to the source article for one of those posted here, and there's a quote from the Georgian gov't source, who said they were terrified of the sample, keeping it securely locked up behind as much shielding as they could cobble up -- and were shocked when the FBI agent casually slipped the plastic-bagged sample into his pocket upon arrival. So apparently it is possible.

Posted by trailing wife 2007-01-26 11:04|| 2007-01-26 11:04|| Front Page Top

#4 Ernest Lawrence used to carry around a plutonium pellet in a cigar box. They even had the pellet and the cigar box on display up in the main lobby of Bldg 50 (Director's Office/Main Library/- Astrophysics/Admin/etc/etc) inside a plastic display case for the Lab's 75th Anniversary. Seems the pellet's (about the size of a penny) radiation couldn't penetrate even the cardboard containment with anything significant.

Posted by FOTSGreg">FOTSGreg 2007-01-26 12:30|| www.fire-on-the-suns.com]">[www.fire-on-the-suns.com] 2007-01-26 12:30|| Front Page Top

18:57 jacksonsa
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