Something interesting.....

[Seeker]

SniffEx, developed by Thomas Thundat, Lal Pinnaduwage, Tony Gehl, Vassil Boiadjiev and Eric Hawk of ORNL; David Hedden of the University of Tennessee; Eric Houser of the Naval Research Laboratory; Linda Deel of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Richard Lareau of the Transportation Security Administration

SniffEx is a compact, low-cost explosive vapor sensor for detecting and locating a variety of explosives, including plastic-based explosives. A micromechanical transducer, no wider than a human hair and with a mass of only a few nanograms, allows only explosive molecules to chemically adsorb to a sensor that can identify the molecule. SniffEx is an improvement over other explosive detection products (such as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/surface acoustic wave devices) because of its sub-part-per-trillion sensitivity and high selectivity, direct vapor sensing, low power consumption (the instrument uses a 9-volt battery), less than one-second response time, stability, compact size, and low cost. SniffEx will have applications in counterterrorism, law enforcement, airport safety and humanitarian efforts such as landmine removal.

ORNL is managed by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy.

Source: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (http://www.ornl.gov/)

So, imagine if Sniffex detect gold or silver ?! Think .....
Look at the picture.In the left hand is sniffex.

[rumensat]

this is bulgarian men Vassil Boiadjiev , who made this 2 years before in Bulgaria in one weapon plant, but nobody believe him here and he go to USA.
Princip is LRL with nitrate molecula freqency generator.
when near is nitrat (main base of all explosives) LRL go to rezonance and move stick.

[Dell Winders]

Having some experience in these matters the device pictured will not function properly without Hoffershoft molecular alignment. The article does not mention this. The device pictured is a scam. Dell

[michael]

Oh, BULGARIAN, it is disgusting. It remember me the fraudulent NOTSI . We had very bad experience with its' LRL2000D.

[Carl-NC]

Obvious dowsing rod scam...

[Seeker]

No,this is not scam, I check.
This was patented in USA (Pat. 6, 344, 818 Apparatus and method for the detection of materials, 2002) and US government restrict reselling of this unit.The price of sniffex is 1600 Euro, but sale only after confirmation from US government.This unit is making in Bulgaria, in military plant "ARSENAL". The method allow detect direction up to 30m distance.
But if you think that US Patent Agency can patented scam ?...
I don't so.

[Carl-NC]

OK, I read the patent... it is definitely a dowsing rod scam.

But if you think that US Patent Agency can patented scam ?...

Yes, very easily.

[Esteban]

If the rod of the image is a scam or not... but the technology, for example, of Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) is in development and can detect 1 part of TNT, for example, in 200,000,000 parts of air.

I post refer it:

But this technic is not new. Another technic (no new) uses an oscillator at typycal frequency of 10 Mhz. This technic is called:

Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM)
A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor comprises a quartz crystal coated with a chemically-selective film. The crystal is configured in an oscillator circuit and typically has a base frequency of 10 MHz. When vapours from the sample interact with the coating film, some are absorbed, causing an increase in the mass of the film. This in turn leads to a decrease in the frequency of the sensor and this is measured as the response. The frequency shift is typically about some hundred Hertz. The advantages of QCMs include high selectivity, high sensitivity, stability over wide temperature ranges, low response to humidity, and good reproducibility.

This technic was used in airport for to detect explosives. For example, tissue of the skin of X reptile is placed in a one face of the crystal and the few molecules of explosive (one part in 200,000,000 parts of molecules of air) can be detected.

http://thunting.com/geotech/forums/showthread.php?t=11046&page=12

[Seeker]

Hi Esteban
I read one article,where discrabe technology of sniffex and mention Earth magnetic field as the main carrier of information.

[Carl-NC]

Fig. 4 of the patent shows the dowsing rod portion of the scam. They state:


The antenna 23 is connected to a rotator portion 27. The rotator portion 27 includes a bearing assembly 29 and rotating arm 31.


This is an antenna on a swivel handle. Which is a dowsing rod. They've gone to some effort to make it not look like a dowsing rod, by adding some extraneous window dressing on it. They describe a pair of coils stuck on the antenna section*. They also describe plugging the handle into a "source module**," and then go on to say that "it is not necessary for the detection module 14 to be connected to the source generator 16, or any other signal generator, for proper operation." In other words, no signal or power is needed.

In using the device, "When the detection module encounters the highest energy line between the source module and target material..., the antenna will rotate to designate that the line has been crossed."

That's classic LRL/MFD/dowsing speak.

These guys are frauds.

- Carl

* Kellyco did this with the LectraSearch years ago, and Afilani had all sorts of plastic do-dads you could stick on the Electroscope antennas.

** Dell did this years ago, as well. So the Sniffex is not just garbage, it's old recycled garbage.

[Carl-NC]

I moved Dell's off-topic complaining to a new thread. This thread is for the discussion of the Sniffex device, if anyone is still interested.

[Esteban]

Seeker:

Sometimes, searching with metal detector you can find easily a target in certain position, but from other position you don't... and no for the position of the target in the soil, yes for the position of the metal detector respect the magnetic field of the Earth, this is my own impression (experience?)... Sometimes I thing all the detectors needs correction coils north-south east-west as TV!!! No only shield!!!

[Seeker]

Hi Esteban,
I have made some units for measure of static magnetic and electric fields and found that : mast measure not only local absolute value , mast measure vector(direction) and variation of field for fixed time.In a article I read about
roving current(electricity) generated from underground sources or from Sun.
If the ground heterogeneous,over the surface is generated static EMfield with intensity many Gaus and Volts.Sometimes this disturbance can produce polarization of normal work of detectors ,what you say.

So, about Sniffex I think that Carl is right,when define Sniffex as dowsing rod,because method of use look like traditional diving-rod with witness.

Best regards

[Qiaozhi]

Hi Esteban,
I have made some units for measure of static magnetic and electric fields and found that : mast measure not only local absolute value , mast measure vector(direction) and variation of field for fixed time.In a article I read about
roving current(electricity) generated from underground sources or from Sun.
If the ground heterogeneous,over the surface is generated static EMfield with intensity many Gaus and Volts.Sometimes this disturbance can produce polarization of normal work of detectors ,what you say.

So, about Sniffex I think that Carl is right,when define Sniffex as dowsing rod,because method of use look like traditional diving-rod with witness.

Best regards
I don't think there's any room for doubt here at all. You don't need to be psychic to clearly see - it's a dowsing rod. :rolleyes:

[Seeker]

Hi Qiaozhi, you are sceptic and ridicule with the unknown, but remember all big things was uncomprehended in begining.

Exept EMfield around us exist undiscovered fields,but we have not technology to received them yet. The main problem is that some people speculate and make money with this, making phseudo-science or units.

Yes, I am a witness of working of true (wooden) dowsing rod. The men can't explaine how this work, he only move around and say what he feel , we check the testifications and for 24 points , 15 was succeed.The man is subjective factor in this experiment, he only interpret moving of rod.
So ,if you have interest in this experiment, I can tell , but not in this room.

Hi Carl , I think all for Sniffex was said and you can close this thread.

Best regards.

[Qiaozhi]

... but remember all big things was uncomprehended in begining.
Hi Seeker,

Maybe - but there are many well-meaning individuals who firmly believe stuff that other more rational people would see as an insult to their intelligence. Unfortunately it is difficult to convince them otherwise, and eventually it becomes as painful as constantly knocking your head against the wall. Basically, my philosophy is to let them believe what they want. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. :D

"Our capacity for self-deception has no known limits" - Michael Novak

[Dell Winders]

"WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE, CAN BE DONE" It's a fact. Denial is the self deception. Dell Winders

[maryyugo]

You can find more information about the tests at the links below with video clips of Sniffex failing to find explosives and on camera views of the President and Vice President of Homeland Safety International being unable to explain the failures.

Collection of about 30 minutes of videos:
http://sniffextest.blogspot.com/

(or simply search Youtube.com for "Sniffex" (no quotes))

Formal test description, background information, report of military testing here:
http://sniffexquestions.blogspot.com/

These are somewhat long reads but worthwhile if you think Sniffex detects explosives. Better reading than blowing yourself up trying this device on a real explosive detection task. And the company suggests it for detecting land mines in a mine field! I wish *they* would use it for that just once.

[maryyugo]

I contacted Thundat and the group at Oakridge and their device is real, non-commercial at this point and has nothing to do with the Sniffex device sold by Homeland Safety International (HSFI). Strangely, the Oakridge prize winning scientists who developed the real explosive detector have been precluded by legal action from HSFI from calling it "Sniffex". Not fair.

[J_Player]

It is true, there are two different sniffex explosive detectors. One is the "fake Sniffex", a long range locator developed by a Bulgarian engineer that fails to find explosives in a double blind test. The "fake sniffex" is currently the product behind a stock manipulation scam to collect money from investors. :nono:

The seccond snifex was developed by Oak Ridge National laboratories for the US department of energy, and received awards from the Oakridge National laboratory, the US department of energy, and R&D Magazine. This sniffex does not make any claims to locate explosives at long range. It takes an air sample in the vicinity of suspected explosives and uses electrochemical and microscopic mechanical methods to identify specific airborne molecules in trace amounts, similar to the method esteban described. :)


Why two sniffex detectors? There are two fascinating stories behind the sniffex, one for each version of the detector:

Story 1: The fake sniffex:
A Bulgarian engineer devised a LRL explosive detector which he claimed to detect explosives using the following "science":
"In operation, the signal generator is activated to emit an energy signal of a target material's characteristic frequency. The power level of the energy source will begin to activate the electrons of nitro-based materials that have the characteristic frequency generated. Once the target material is activated, it too will begin to emit a signal having the characteristic frequency of the signal generator."

The Bulgarian inventor of the sniffex was apparently unable to find anyone in his homeland to send large amounts of money his way. But he soon learned that he could make a profitable deal if he licensed his scam to wall street securities promoters: Lawyer and Shell Provider- G. David Gordon, and current sniffex CEO and sole officer- Paul Johnson. G. David Gordon has established a history of illegal and fraudulent business practices involving stock promotions which left his corporations bankrupt at the expense of the investors. Today, the sniffex stocks are being bought while investors are eager to invest in equipment that fights terrorism. But they obviously haven't seen the you-tube videos of the LRL failing the double-blind tests to locate explosives. See more interesting reading about the sniffex corporation at these links:
http://www.stocklemon.com/index.php?s=sniffex&submit= (stock lemon report)
https://www.otcstockinfo.com/repository/658693/658693_FR1.pdf (Sniffex corporate disclosure)

Story 2: The real sniffex:
The real sniffex cannot be called sniffex, because the fake sniffex reserved the name "Sniffex" by incorporating before the second sniffex scientists released their new product. The real sniffex was developed by Thomas Thundat, along with his team at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory to detect traces of a variety of explosives, including plastic-based explosives. A micro-mechanical transducer, no wider than a human hair and with a mass of only a few nanograms, allows only explosive molecules to chemically adsorb to a sensor that can identify the molecule. SniffEx is an improvement over other explosive detection products (such as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/surface acoustic wave devices) because of its sub-part-per-trillion sensitivity and high selectivity, direct vapor sensing, low power consumption (the instrument uses a 9-volt battery), less than one-second response time, stability, compact size, and low cost.
How can a transducer do this? There is a long story behind Thomas Thundat's discoveries when he was experimenting with atomic force microscopes in 1991. His observations led him to developing a collection of microscopic electrochemical sensors that can detect not only explosives, but a large array of molecules that will prove very useful in medical diagnosis and other fields. His research is on the cutting edge of replicating an electronic version of sensors that are more sensitive than a dog's sense of smell.
Read more and see pictures of Thomas Thundat's fascinating sensors here: http://www.ornl.gov/info/ornlreview/v37_1_04/article_15.shtml


In answer to the question: "can it detect gold or silver?"
In it's current form, the sniffex sensors are chemically treated to absorb certain molecules such as nitrates from explosives. But the micro-sensors could be made to sense gold and silver ions or vapors if they existed in the air that it was sampling. I have never found any evidence of ions or vapors of gold or silver in the air at normal atmospheric conditions. Thus, I would not expect the sniffex to sense gold or silver even if the sensor was modified. In the case of the "fake sniffex", it has been proven to not find explosives, and I would expect it also fails to find gold or silver.