Yes. The resolution and dynamic range you can get with modern gear is pretty impressive. Check out images.google.com with terms like "gamma spectrum". Also d

Yes. The resolution and dynamic range you can get with modern gear is pretty impressive. Check out images.google.com with terms like "gamma spectrum". Also different kinds of particles. Also you can zap things with neutrons (and other things) and the reactions tend to be rather unique. Given a large enough amount of money to outfit a lab, its very fast and easy to tell whats inside an unshielded box. If its a thick enough shielded box, exact minimal design probably classified, then you'll have to crack the box open or stick a sensor in a hole. Its trickling down to consumer level. Junkyards can now afford an x-ray zapper than analyzes the exact metal alloy of scrap that comes in. Its interesting that when I was a kid things like FLIRs and xray analyzers were very star trek, but within my lifetime they're going to be nearly consumer goods. If you thought police visual cameras and airport xray scanners were controversial, wait until every podunk police dept has 500 FLIR cameras on lampposts and every car that drives by is remotely analyzed for drug or gun or explosive signatures all for your "safety".