Researchers At Kyoto University Create X-Ray Generation Device That Fits In Your Hand

In the technology world, there's a race to make everything smaller. Even if it's for a short time, the ability for scientists and researchers to make something that's normally big, and cram it down to a ridiculous size is something of a pasttime. For a group of researchers at the Kyoto University in Japan, they've managed to not only create an X-ray generation device that fits in the palm of your hand, but one that's also powered by standard D-type batteries.

In a new report from the Japanese business daily The Nikkei, the researchers managed to create the device with a size profile of only 5cm long and 3cm wide. Despite its small stature, the device does quite the work. Two electrodes made of tantalic-acid-lithium are placed inside a glass case, which will start producing heat when they are subjected to some kind of current. Electrons are subsequently released from the device, which emit radiation if they hit the item the researchers are trying to examine.

According to the researchers, they were able to specify the elements in a grain of rice in a matter of only 3 minutes. Of course, the researchers see their brand new invention as a way to replace the X-ray generation machines in use today. Not only that, they say that it could be used in a portable X-ray detector.

[via CrunchGear]