I worked in cosmic rays for a time and there is some overlap between the challenge of finding the capsule, and common astroparticle physics problems. > The cap

I worked in cosmic rays for a time and there is some overlap between the challenge of finding the capsule, and common astroparticle physics problems. > The capsule, which contains a small amount of cesium-137, is dangerously radioactive, according to the authorities. An hour of exposure at about a meter away is the equivalent of having 10 X-rays, and prolonged contact can cause skin burns, acute radiation sickness and cancer, they said. I'd think this should be enough information to calculate the size (which the authorities should know, but we probably don't), and from the size the total beta and gamma flux should be calculable. Once the fluxes are understood, I imagine that could tell you how fast/slow you could/should drive on the highway to have a good chance of detection (I imagine the penetrating gamma signal would give better odds), for any given detector, assuming some maximum distance of the capsule from the highway. Interesting problem, I hope they pick it up before someone gets hurt.