PRQRSciences promotes MRI-like radio waves as answer to chemical detection problem

Published 15 August 2006

Sitting pretty after recent reports that X-rays are ineffective explosive detectors, the Australian company pushes forward with its patented Quadropole Resonance technology.

As we report elsewhere today, airport X-rays are believed to be ineffective in detecting explosives. Not that we should give up hope. QRSciences, based in Cannington, Australia, believes its Quadropole Resonance technology is the solution. In addition to scannning with X-rays, the QR machines bombard luggage with low frequency radio waves similar to those used in medical MRI machines. The radio waves excite atoms such as nitrogen that are common in explosives, which then emit energy in unique wavelength spectrums that can be easily detected and identified. One promising advance: QRSciences recently inked a deal with General Electric Security (NYSE:GE) to license it’s hand-held shoe scanner, which would allow passengers to be tested without having to unshod themselves.

-read more in this press release; read more about the technology at the company Website