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| Thread ID: 83013 | 2007-09-16 03:11:00 | Garage Sale problem (dangerous?) | Thomas01 (317) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 591584 | 2007-09-16 03:11:00 | Yet another item my wife found at a recent garage sale. She thought it would be appreciated by our great grand children. It glows in the dark - but when I tested it I was surprised just how bright it was. Cats in particular seem very affected by radiation and should for instance be banned from the tops of TVs. But I don't have the knowledge to make a decision on this item. Is it safe or do I dump it (very deep underground)? Tom www.imagef1.net.nz |
Thomas01 (317) | ||
| 591585 | 2007-09-16 03:16:00 | It is not radioactive, but a light absorber (luminnesent?). Someone here will provide a Wikipedia link or other. For proof, keep it in a dark place for a few hours then take it out in a dark room - it should not glow. Many watch and clock hands are luminesent but years ago I had a true radioactive watch - quite cool for a kid - Surfer probably remembers waaaay back when there were X-Ray machines in shoe stores where you could check to see if your shoes fitted properly (as if it was needed!); X-Rays are not radioactive but it goes along with slack safety measures back in the 50's and 60's. |
Morpheus1 (186) | ||
| 591586 | 2007-09-16 03:21:00 | Fluorescence ? See: en.wikipedia.org Phosphorescence? |
Morpheus1 (186) | ||
| 591587 | 2007-09-16 03:26:00 | The thing is unlikely to be radio-active, that stuff is too expensive. However, you should try to find out what it was eating, and avoid that for a while. If you are still unconvinced that it is safe, strap it to the forehead of the least favoured great - grandkid for 6 months or so. The cat may be more senstive, but believe me you don't want the SPCA poking around if you let the cat join in the advance of science. |
R2x1 (4628) | ||
| 591588 | 2007-09-16 03:48:00 | Fluorescence ? See: en.wikipedia.org Phosphorescence? Fluorescence is the glow when you whack an item under a UV light, when you switch the light off the glow stops. Phosphorescence is the glow that keeps on giving... it is stimulated by a light source, but continues after the light source is gone. The model looks like a dinosaurus (pronounced 'Dino sore arse') Or possibly a brontisaurus... (yep, you guessed it- pronounced Bronte sore arse) I'd go for strapping it to the cat... never liked the creatures anyway :groan: |
Shortcircuit (1666) | ||
| 591589 | 2007-09-17 03:11:00 | If there is one particular thing I like about PC World Forums its the way humour manages to creep into so many messages. Thanks to all those who replied. I am relieved to know the thing is harmless and pleased to find out how to pronounce dinosaur. Actually I have grown quite fond of the beast and doubt that the children will get it for some time yet. Tom |
Thomas01 (317) | ||
| 591590 | 2007-09-17 04:15:00 | I think it is a Mammoth. Quite a few million years after the dino. en.wikipedia.org :) |
Trev (427) | ||
| 591591 | 2007-09-17 04:56:00 | If I remember correctly (and I'm old so take it for what it's worth) this is a Revell Toys® "Giant Mammoth Skeleton" model that was part of a set of 6 to 10 or so. The year I remember them best was around 1962. Mothers then too were concerned about the radium in the plastic but Revell said if the toy was not actually chewed up and ingested it was harmless. It was harmless anyway even if those conditions were met too...something about macro-elements and digestive fluids and insolvable-in-gastric-fluids plastic...(see: Keebler "Soft Batch Cookies for more information). Anyway, the radium was captured and encapsulated and not likely to cause any harm...no more than current cellphone radiation to the human brain. I'll try to research it and get back to you...got a neighbor who has a few thousand of these things in his home...nuts, huh? :blush: |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
| 591592 | 2007-09-17 07:40:00 | Glow in the dark things are cool, especially if you have a black light. Keep it. |
radium (8645) | ||
| 591593 | 2007-09-18 01:30:00 | They should have a 300 foot exact replica planted outside the beehive so they can say if it is a useful powersaving tool....:p | rob_on_guitar (4196) | ||
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