# Can you really take an xray with Scotch tape?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-take-an-xray-with-scotch-tape/575996>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 25, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-take-an-xray-with-scotch-tape/575996 "2011-03-25T18:55:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-take-an-xray-with-scotch-tape/575996/21 "2011-03-28T02:14:59Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> … [Methyl salicylate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methyl_salicylate) (oil of wintergreen) … is also a potentially entertaining source of triboluminescence; when mixed with sugar and dried, it gains the tendency to build up electrical charge when crushed or rubbed. This effect can be observed by crushing wintergreen Life Savers candy in a dark room. …

CMC fnord!

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**Author:** ![J\_Cubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@J\_Cubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J_Cubed)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-take-an-xray-with-scotch-tape/575996/22 "2011-03-28T04:26:39Z")

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> [@TravisFromOR](#):
>
> Band-aid packaging works as well. I always open them in a darkened room. (I amuse easily.)

Worst nurse ever.

> [@crowmanyclouds](#):
>
> …oil of wintergreen…

So does this mean that Band-Aids and Life Savers in vacuum can also generate X-rays?

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**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-take-an-xray-with-scotch-tape/575996/23 "2011-03-28T05:23:24Z")

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> [@billfish678](#):
>
> The version as seen on Bones is a MacGyver version. In theory you can do it. As shown it wouldnt work worth shit.

True, but I give them props for at least basing it on a sound scientific principle. It’s much better than the crap that usually passes for “science” on TV. [/curmudgeon]

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**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-take-an-xray-with-scotch-tape/575996/24 "2011-03-28T13:30:47Z")

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Seriously, remember the old Bones holotank? The scotch tape thing was a beautiful marvel of truth. (There was also a potato battery in that episode, can’t think why it wouldn’t work either.)

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