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This is really weird. FTA: "These gauges are designed to be robust and to be used in industrial settings where they may be exposed to weather and vibration,” Dr

by erentz 4y ago

This is really weird. FTA: "These gauges are designed to be robust and to be used in industrial settings where they may be exposed to weather and vibration,” Dr. Robertson said at a news conference on Saturday, “so it is unusual for a gauge to come apart like this one has." See also this [1] article with a picture of an example gauge. Again making the point that this is really weird: "Radiation Services WA general manager Lauren Steen said it was a “highly unlikely” scenario, due to the safety measures typically in place for the transit of radioactive materials." New material for a future Plainly Difficult episode once the investigation is complete. [1] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-28/radioactive-capsule-search-perth-to-pilbara-/101902914 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-28/radioactive-capsule-s...

TedDoesntTalk 4y ago
It was probably tampered with.
mach1ne 4y ago
Is there any chance it was theft?
- grouchomarx 4y ago
  "They believe that vibrations from the truck caused the sensor to shake apart and also dislodged a mounting bolt, leaving a hole in the bottom of the box. The capsule is believed to have fallen out of the sensor, through the bolt-hole, onto the surface of the truck, and bounced off into the road." This explanation sounds pretty bogus so theft makes sense to me
LatteLazy 4y ago
Thanks. I was confused why the NYT didn't include a picture of it for public safety if for no other reason...
- bendews 4y ago
  NYT does not have any reach in Australia, and especially so with the population that lives around where the capsule was misplaced.
  - Perenti 4y ago
    Probably better to say "and no-one lives around where the capsule was misplaced". It _could_ of been lost in a "built up area" (more than 0.1 ppl/sq km) but statistically it's probably where no-one ever goes except wildlife. It's a HUGE area with very very few people in it.
a_bonobo 4y ago
>so it is unusual for a gauge to come apart like this one has There's a famous Australian sketch about an oil spill from 1991 that uses very similar wording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E8LW7qaDG4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E8LW7qaDG4
- gennarro 4y ago
  Incredible. Thanks for sharing.

by erentz 4y ago

TedDoesntTalk 4y ago

It was probably tampered with.

mach1ne 4y ago

Is there any chance it was theft?

grouchomarx 4y ago
"They believe that vibrations from the truck caused the sensor to shake apart and also dislodged a mounting bolt, leaving a hole in the bottom of the box. The capsule is believed to have fallen out of the sensor, through the bolt-hole, onto the surface of the truck, and bounced off into the road." This explanation sounds pretty bogus so theft makes sense to me

LatteLazy 4y ago

Thanks. I was confused why the NYT didn't include a picture of it for public safety if for no other reason...

bendews 4y ago
NYT does not have any reach in Australia, and especially so with the population that lives around where the capsule was misplaced.
- Perenti 4y ago
  Probably better to say "and no-one lives around where the capsule was misplaced". It _could_ of been lost in a "built up area" (more than 0.1 ppl/sq km) but statistically it's probably where no-one ever goes except wildlife. It's a HUGE area with very very few people in it.

a_bonobo 4y ago

>so it is unusual for a gauge to come apart like this one has There's a famous Australian sketch about an oil spill from 1991 that uses very similar wording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E8LW7qaDG4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E8LW7qaDG4

gennarro 4y ago
Incredible. Thanks for sharing.