The top gift for science geeks

Nathan Wallace — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 04:48:28 GMT

www.radarmagazine.com/
features/2006/12/
gilbert_u238_atomic_energy_lab.php

... is an even more amazing (but fortunately unavailable) nucular geek toy (sic intentional!)

The top gift for science geeks

Cal Wellander, Saugus, Ca. — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 11:52:34 GMT

Back in the 1940s aometime I sent away for an Atomic ring, it was one of those things where you had to send a small amount of money and some box tops of some kind of breakfast cereal, Wheaties maybe? The ring had a small cylinder on the top with a glass? lens to look thru. When you looked into this cylinder you could see small sparks just like the Spinthariscope that is mentioned in this article. Anyone remember them or still have one ?

The top gift for science geeks

Andy Motherway — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 05:14:26 GMT

Hey, For your information, United Nuclear was founded by the AREA 51 "whistleblower", Bob Lazar. He claimed to have reverse engineered spacecraft there in the late 80's... Ooooh.

The top gift for science geeks

Tim Shepard, San Jose, Ca 95123 — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 20:23:20 GMT

When I was a kid we used to got to the flea markets and buy old smoke detectors for the Americium 241 in them. The really old ones had about 10 uCuries (10 times what these guys are selling) and you could get one for a buck.

We would steal dental X-Ray film when the dentist wasn't looking and use the Americium to make images of keys through aluminum foil. Then we would steal key blanks at the K-Mart and file our copies of keys to the school storerooms.

The top gift for science geeks

Mnementh, Callahan FL — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 16:28:26 GMT

Yay! I'll be the envy of every geek I know.

I wonder if my brother will let me play with his spintherascope? Maybe if I offer him a t-shirt...

The top gift for science geeks

ABeverage, Idaho — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 17:40:27 GMT

OK not to be a Humbug... I was Glad to see the The Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab mentioned.

http://www.radarmagazine.com/
features/2006/12/gilbert_u238_atomic_energy_lab.php

The rest of the toys in that list are all classics. Although the list is more like a how we survived childhood than a best buy list. MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Glowing New Year. hehe.

The top gift for science geeks

Miguel Romero — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 01:40:57 GMT

You're correct Andy Motherway, they even run a story about United Nuclear in Wired magazine not so long ago, and did not mention Lazar's past reputation in the UFO folklore. Well, let's see if next year's coolest geek toy is a scaled flying saucer, complete with a mini-reactor powered with element 115!