Science: The Bomb Sniffer

Placed unobtrusively among the other notices that appeared in the columns of the Government publication Commerce Business Daily last week was an intriguing appeal. The U.S. Department of Transportation was calling for proposals to develop equipment that could spot and quickly identify "dynamite and other explosive vapors diffusing out of closed baggage." The implication of the notice was plain. Alarmed by the recent rash of bombings, on the ground and in the air, the Government is stepping up its efforts to encourage the design and manufacture of an effective bomb detector.

Fortunately, work...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!