Photo: DPA

New German technology could allow liquids on planes again

Published: 21 Oct 09 08:13 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/sci-tech/20091021-22703.html

German scientists said on Tuesday they have developed a new technology that could allow air passengers to take liquids on planes again by instantly being able to tell if they are explosive.

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Knut Urban, head of a team of physicists from the Jülich research centre in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, said that their prototype device could identify explosive ingredients "in a fraction of a second."

Since 2006, passengers have only been allowed to take small amounts of liquids on board, or those bought "air side" in airports after security checks, following the discovery of a plot to blow up transatlantic airliners.

Three British Muslims were jailed for life last month for the foiled transatlantic bomb plot that spawned the liquid ban. They planned to detonate liquid explosives on at least 10 airplanes in near-simultaneous Al-Qaida-inspired suicide attacks.

The new technology, outlined in Superconductor Science and Technology magazine, involves analysing liquids using a broad spectrum of electromagnetic waves that provide a detailed molecular "finger print" of the fluid.

AFP (news@thelocal.de)

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10:37 October 21, 2009 by romber58
The sooner the better.I hate not being able to bring Pickled onions back...
11:05 October 21, 2009 by questionsasker
What does Islam has to do with this now? so if someone claims he's Jewish and then carries out a terrorist act. you will write "3 Israeli jews were jailed...."?

Terrorism Has no religion, and there are more than 1 billion Muslims who live peacefully on this planet that you don't need to mark them terrorist suspects because a handful of terrorists claim to be Muslims.

Please don't take part in this xenophobic mixing between terrorists and peaceful Muslims. Our lives -Muslim- is getting harder here in the west day after day, and rights and freedom is being taken away because of this!
11:07 October 21, 2009 by Owain Glyndwr
had no problems taking liquids on board my flight from Dubai to Doha or Doha to Munich. ho hum.
11:23 October 21, 2009 by Keydeck
Please don't take part in this xenophobic mixing between terrorists and peaceful Muslims. Our lives -Muslim- is getting harder here in the west day after day, and rights and freedom is being taken away because of this!
Big boo hoo.

Most middle eastern muslims are not terrorists. Most middle eastern terrorists are muslims.

In the 80s, most Irish people travelling to England were not terrorists. In the 80s most terrorists travelling to England were Irish.

Perhaps they should leave the religion out of it, but there is definitely a connection there. Should we just take it for granted that they are muslim? Isn't that worse? I mean, I certainly don't recall any protestant or buddhist terrorists trying to bomb planes.
11:32 October 21, 2009 by BigEnglish2009
Please don't take part in this xenophobic mixing between terrorists and peaceful Muslims.
If only the peaceful ones had the balls to denounce the naughty ones then I would be on your side. But you don't, do you?
11:49 October 21, 2009 by MunichMag
Knut Urban, head of a team of physicists from the Jülich research centre in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, said that their prototype device could identify explosive ingredients "in a fraction of a second."
So Mr "new turban" says it's ok to take liquids on planes. Sounds a bit suspect to me.
12:07 October 21, 2009 by West_Indian
This just means a hike in air fare. Now you will be paying even more in Security fees at the airport.
13:09 October 21, 2009 by BigEnglish2009
I would rather pay more and get to my destination safely than pay less and have to 'clothes line' Mr Abdulla as he runs down the isle trying to set fire to a bottle of Tizer!
13:12 October 21, 2009 by Heinrich der Zweite
Liquid on the planes but no longer on the trains.
18:05 October 21, 2009 by delvek
"So Mr "new turban" says it's ok to take liquids on planes. Sounds a bit suspect to me. "

@Munichmag ... very clever response!

@Questionsasker ... if it sounds like a duck and walks like a duck, hate to break it to you but ... it is a duck.
08:35 October 22, 2009 by katekatekoala
Ugh, this just means longer lines at the security point as everyone and their mother wants to get their precious water bottles and Coke checked, cause god forbid you throw away like, 0,3 L of drink. Suck it up and buy something on the other side.
09:01 October 22, 2009 by Owain Glyndwr
If it is intergrated into th current scanner there shouldn't be any extra processing times really
09:03 October 22, 2009 by Owain Glyndwr
If it is intergrated into th current scanner there shouldn't be any extra processing times really
17:34 October 22, 2009 by MikeinGermany
Finally, I can bring hot sauce back without having to spill it over my clothing.
18:11 October 22, 2009 by iain
My transporting of massive quantities of beer might be back in buisiness! This combined with asian market opening down the street from me has made this day a day of potential very awesomeness.
18:16 October 22, 2009 by cinzia
Finally, I can bring hot sauce back without having to spill it over my clothing.
Wow, I've never heard of that trick before.

So you spill hot sauce on your clothing to get it through security, and then you somehow strain it out to use on your bland German food? Brilliant!
22:59 November 13, 2009 by MikeinGermany
Cinzia? Hmmm.... I actually don't know how to respond to that. Is that German humor? No offense to Germans dropping ease but that has German humor written all over it.
23:15 November 13, 2009 by eurovol
The ban on liquids is a scam. I want my shave cream back that the idiots in Düsseldorf stole from my carry-on!

Guess what? A lighter and some duty free perfume or spirits would make a great torch! Ban the frigging duty free crap and give me back my shave cream!1!
23:25 November 13, 2009 by mlovett
I want my bottle of herbal rocket fuel back, made by cloistered nuns that I forced my husband into the boonies of Italy so that I could buy it. No, I am not kidding. I cried when the Germans threw it in the trash. [yes yes... it was my own stupid fault for forgetting to move it to the check-in luggage]
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