Sticky tape X-rays

Presenter: Carlos Camara

Published: November 2009

Age: 14-19 and upwards

Views: 1798 views

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Type: Lectures

Source/institution: Nature Video

Peeling sticky tape emits energy that extends into the X-ray regime, reports a study in Nature. The research provides evidence for a phenomenon that was first observed more than 50 years ago.nnIt is well known that unwinding sticky tape produces sparks of light that can easily be seen by the naked eye in a dark room. This phenomenon, known as triboluminescence, is produced by the friction generated when two contacting surfaces move relative to each other.