Scotch Tape Emits X-Rays

New evidence - if any were needed - that strangeness is often a lot closer than we think. Associated Press reports that humble, everyday Scotch Tape you buy in the stores can emit X-Rays!

The discovery was made by researchers at the University of California, LA, whilst peeling Scotch tape in a vacuum. The team were following up older reports from Russia in 1953 that peeling sticky tape could produce X-rays. The researchers were sceptical about the Russian reports, however they found to their surprise that X-rays were indeed emitted when Scotch tape was peeled in a vacuum. The high energy pulses were sufficient to allow the researchers to take Xray photos of their fingers.

The mechanism behind this discovery - called triboluminescence - is unclear and has a number of scientists puzzled. One theory is that splitting a crystal separates out positive and negative charges that then neutralise each other and release energy as light or - in this case - X-rays. However this theory fails to explain why quite so much energy is released, especially given the nature of the adhesive on the tape.

The researchers are keen to avoid worrying people about using sticky tape and stress that their experiments require the tape to be peeled in a vacuum. Team member Juan Escobar said: "We don't want to scare people from using Scotch tape in everyday life".