Explosion Video of the Week: TATP
Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 10:44
in Physics & Chemistry
Turn up your sound and chemist Gerard Harbison will explain it all. The tiny white thing sitting in front of the orange water balloon contains a mere 1/60th of an ounce of triacetone triperoxide (TATP), the chosen detonator of would-be shoe bomber Richard Reid. (Note: TATP is still explosive when it's wet, so it's probably one of the reasons for the TSA's draconian rules about liquids.) Add a 9-volt battery and KABOOM. But there's good news. read more