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Special Report Surveillance

Picometrix

Forget X-rays, Now It's T-rays

T-rays trigger unique responses from materials. Explosives, metals, and plastics all resonate at a specific telltale frequency. Via T-ray technology, the signals from the resonating molecules are converted into clear, three-dimensional images. The images not only are sharper than X-rays but also can be peeled away to uncover a gun or plastic knife -- or perhaps a sheet of explosive disguised as paper.

T-ray systems such as this one from Picometrix can also scan people. Since T-rays don't penetrate human skin, they pose no threat of dangerous radiation. But T-ray body scans see through clothing, essentially undressing a person. The Transportation Security Administration hopes that programming the computer to apply strategic fig leaves will overcome resistance to this technology.


Read the cover story on The State Of Surveillance

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