Read about a nifty gadget in Wired, a handheld XRF scanner - that can be used to determine the atomic mix of various items (such as archeological finds, deposits from mining, unknown dumpsites....) The technology and method is old, but the handheld versions are new - and represent a great leap in terms of both ease of use and potential fields of application. In theory you could bring it into an old abandoned mine and figure out which parts/directions might be worth further excavation. Or it could be used by enviromentalists to do instant evaluation of exhaust and waste from various industrial sites. Insight at the touch of a button.
...on another note winter is here - as I came home 45 minutes ago it started gently snowing, and now everything outside is beeing cowered by a thin white layer. Wonder how it will look in the morning? Will it keep on snowing, blow away or simply melt? Oh well, for now I feel the x-mas spirit coming on! HO HO HO!
...and the sun has gone done - but the first snow is falling outside...
