New technologies developed in Jerusalem and Hebron are keeping Israel and
the world safe from conventional and biological terror attacks.
Hebrew University scientists in Jerusalem have found a simple way to detect
whether someone has handled explosives recently.
A forensic chemist from the university developed a chemical spray that is
able to detect recent contact with urea nitrate - the easily attainable
chemical used in most bombs produced in the Palestinian Authority.
The chemical test reacts with even the smallest amounts of urea nitrate,
turning the surface bright red. A swab sample can be taken from surfaces
touched by a suspect or the hands of the person in question.
Professor Joseph Almog, the spray's developer, said that the method could
be "cheaply and easily incorporated into security screenings by law
enforcement agencies, the military, and at certain air and sea
check-points."