Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Teen Arrested For Home Chemistry Lab
Lewis Casey, an 18-year-old college student living at home in Saskatchewan, has been arrested for studying chemistry at home. Two weeks ago, police raided his home lab, which he built over his parent's garage, and declared that it was a meth lab.
(Saskatoon police looking for illegal labs)
Several days later, police admitted that Casey's lab was not being used to make illegal drugs, nor was it being used for any other illegal purpose. However, a trial is pending to determine whether or not he was using his lab to build what police are calling "improvised explosive devices."
Casey is now living at home; he is forbidden to learn about chemistry via experimentation, other than under formal supervision at school.
As a science-oriented child growing up in the 1960's, I of course had my share of chemistry sets. I think the largest one offered more than 100 different chemicals; I remember going to local hobby shops for replacement supplies. Would my son be arrested for using a similar set today?
I find myself wondering what Homeland Security would think of this nifty Gilbert Atomic Energy Lab from the 1950's.
(Gilbert atomic energy kit)
It offered these contents:
1. U-239 Geiger radiation counter.
2. Electroscope to measure radioactivity of different substances.
3. Spinthariscope to watch "live" radioactive disintegration.
4. Wilson Cloud Chamber to see paths of electrons & alpha particles at 10k mps
5. Three very low-level radioactive sources (Alpha, Beta, Gamma).
6. Four samples of Uranium-bearing ores
7. Nuclear Spheres (used to visual build models of molecules)
8. The book "Prospecting for Uranium"
9. The "Gilbert Atomic Energy Manual"
10. The comic book "Learn How Dagwood Splits the Atom"
11. Three "Winchester" Batteries (size "C")
Also, take a look at the recent story Biohackers and its comments for more on the topic of whether or not our nation's young people should just play video games and watch TV - is science too dangerous?
From Clandestine lab.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 12/28/2008)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 4 )
Related News Stories - (" Engineering ")
Envisioning Starship Earth Travel - In 1930 By Max Valier
'Why must we travel ever faster in a seemingly insatiable desire to conquer space and time?' - Max Valier, 1930.
Liquid Lenses Adjust Automatically, Not Quite Dune Binoculars
'Hufhuf oil held in static tension... within a viewing tube...' - Frank Herbert, 1965.
The Dune Ornithopter, Movie And Book
'The wings were at full spread-rest, their delicate metal interleavings extended.' Frank Herbert, 1965.
Two Towns Linked By Sculpture Portal In Real Time
'I am the Guardian of Forever.' - Gene Roddenberry, 1967.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Envisioning Starship Earth Travel - In 1930 By Max Valier
'Why must we travel ever faster in a seemingly insatiable desire to conquer space and time?'
Man's Marriage To Hologram Ruined By Software Glitch
Till 'NETWORK ERROR' do us part.
Carbon Robotics: War Of The Worlds As A Metaphor For Weed Control
'It was as if some invisible jet impinged upon them and flashed into white flame.'
Pathways Language Model (PaLM) Is No Joke
'Electronic differentiation of the grotesque, as it says in the specifications - in man, a sense of humor.'
MOOSE: Man Out Of Space Easiest or Manned Orbital Operations Safety Equipment
'And as the ball bulleted downward on a screaming slant, it shrank!'
Liquid Lenses Adjust Automatically, Not Quite Dune Binoculars
'Hufhuf oil held in static tension... within a viewing tube...'
Your Martian Dream Home, Made By Fungi
'... it was the cheapest building material known.'
The Dune Ornithopter, Movie And Book
'The wings were at full spread-rest, their delicate metal interleavings extended.'
100X Improvement In DNA Information Storage
'A record that wouldn't get lost and couldn't be destroyed.'
NASA 'Holoports' Doctor Onto Space Station
Star Trek Voyager Emergency Medical Hologram
Should We Train AIs To Imagine A Future Of Horrific Disasters
'LET ME TELL YOU HOW MUCH I'VE COME TO HATE YOU SINCE I BEGAN TO LIVE.'
Mouth Haptics Invented By Frederik Pohl In 1965, CMU Now Has Prototype
'What he got was indeed a kiss. It was disconcerting. No kissing lips were visible.'
Two Towns Linked By Sculpture Portal In Real Time
'I am the Guardian of Forever.'
3D Printed Robotic Tentacles
'... articulate ropes of steel dangling'
Update: Musk Doubles Down On Optimus Prime Humanoid Robot
'I shall introduce myself. I am R. Daneel Olivaw... I am a robot. Were you not told?'
Elon Musk: Production Of Robotaxis In 2024
'How about the steering wheel... I don't need one.'
