How NM Tech Helps Analyze Bomb Scenes

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

04/26/2013 12:41:59 PM · #1

Good video on CNN today, showing some of the research that is done here by New Mexico Tech's EMRTC. The range they show in this video is pretty much literally in my front yard, I can see the range directly, and it's only a couple of miles out. This particular test, however, was on the far side of the range.

Just thought I'd share what my alma mater and my town contribute to this, since I'm pretty proud of the work they do, and have been to a few of these demonstrations (they're awesome). I remember first moving here, and how much all the bombs randomly going off would startle me, now after years of living here I rarely even notice the things. :)

By the way, images 6-9, in the pictures article above, show a 50,000lb diamond shot, where they were researching the process of explosive compression of carbon(and a few trace things) into diamonds. Those blasts were just ridiculous, it always felt like a truck had run into the house - and for a while they were setting off two or three a week.

Message edited by author 2013-04-27 12:18:28.

alfresco

Nikon D700

04/26/2013 12:57:17 PM · #2

As a Tech alum this brings back memories - thanks for sharing!

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

04/26/2013 01:04:16 PM · #3

Originally posted by alfresco:

As a Tech alum this brings back memories - thanks for sharing!

No kidding? Right on, that makes at least five Miners here, wonder if there are more of us?

alfresco

Nikon D700

04/26/2013 01:39:06 PM · #4

No kidding, late 80's degree in geology.

I wouldn't doubt there are more of us lurking about here!

Message edited by author 2013-04-26 13:44:16.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

04/26/2013 01:44:44 PM · #5

Originally posted by alfresco:

No kidding, late 80's degree in geology.

Mineralogy, mid 00's. :) No doubt we shared the same classrooms, hell I think Prof. Condie was even around then wasn't he? Also did my work-study as an assistant to the curator at the Mineral Museum. :) I think it was around in the 80s, but that one burned, with a few tragic losses. New one was built though, and now there's a new-new one going up. :) Been back? If you come through, let me know.

alfresco

Nikon D700

04/26/2013 03:35:08 PM · #6

I've not been back since 1992-ish, it's been a loooong time - I pine for arid fjords of NM!

Yes, Kent Condie was around back then. A work-study job for him is what prompted me to change from astro to geo. He and Dave Johnson taught field camp which included the week-long white water raft trip - good times. Good times!

posthumous

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

04/27/2013 01:10:41 AM · #7

very poorly worded title

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

04/27/2013 01:30:27 AM · #8

Originally posted by posthumous:

very poorly worded title

By all means, use the report post button and request a better one - I kept running into the blasted character limit.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

04/27/2013 11:53:55 AM · #9

How about:

How NM Tech Helps Analyze Bomb Scenes

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR

04/27/2013 11:59:19 AM · #10

Originally posted by GeneralE:

How about:

How NM Tech Helps Analyze Bomb Scenes

Sure. That's much better. Please switch it out. :)

ETA: Thanks

Message edited by author 2013-04-27 12:16:02.

smardaz

04/27/2013 12:15:49 PM · #11

mineralogy and geology? man....and I thought I was a nerd!

Damon

Nikon D750

04/27/2013 12:22:14 PM · #12

Originally posted by smardaz:

mineralogy and geology? man....and I thought I was a nerd!

LOL I was thinking the same...

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

04/27/2013 12:45:54 PM · #13

Originally posted by smardaz:

mineralogy and geology? man....and I thought I was a nerd!

WHAT!?!?!?

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

04/27/2013 02:32:23 PM · #14

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Originally posted by smardaz:
mineralogy and geology? man....and I thought I was a nerd!

WHAT!?!?!?

Double-WTF...

What on EARTH is nerdly about trekking around in the wilderness exploring for raw materials?

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

04/27/2013 02:42:17 PM · #15

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Originally posted by smardaz:
mineralogy and geology? man....and I thought I was a nerd!

WHAT!?!?!?

Double-WTF...

What on EARTH is nerdly about trekking around in the wilderness exploring for raw materials?

Figuring out the structure and material composition of somthing buried a few thousand feet down by (for example) thumping the ground in one place and analyzing the vibrations sensed at another can be pretty technical stuff ...

04/27/2013 02:44:38 PM · #16

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Earthquakes are more convenient, and cheaper than seismogenic equipment. :)

And you want to analyze it at multiple points, not just one other point. :D

Message edited by author 2013-04-27 14:45:44.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

04/27/2013 02:48:08 PM · #17

LOL at this conversation BTW, not a single mention of the incredible images linked to in the OP, but a great conversation about geology.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

04/27/2013 03:25:16 PM · #18

The lighting in the original shot is pretty heroic, tons of great fill. I wonder how big that light was to create the huge circle of light around the figure in the back.

Originally posted by Bear_Music:
What on EARTH is nerdly about trekking around in the wilderness exploring for raw materials?

Nerd has made a shift. When I was in college, nerd was a bad thing. ": an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially : one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits " Merriam Webster

My college age daughter uses it in a far more positive light " A person who gains pleasure from amassing large quantities of knowledge about subjects often too detailed or complicated for most other people to be bothered with.
Often mistaken for Geeks, who aspire to become nerds, yet lack the intelligence, and end up giving nerds a bad name due to their poor social skills.
Non-nerds are often scared of nerds, due to their detailed knowledge, and therefore seemingly high levels of intelligence - and subsequently denegrate them as much as possible as often as possible.
Nerds exist covertly within the fabric of society, often choosing to 'nerd it up' in private or in the company of fellow nerds. It is for this reason they are feared the most - unlike geeks, who are easily identified, nerds can only be found out when casual conversation reaches a subject that they like nerding. Urban Dictionary

Though that definition has much more negative view of the word geek which my daughter and friends use positively, as in to geek out when focusing deeply on any area of specialized knowledge. She would describe the guys in the image as "bomb geeks", and that would be a good thing.

smardaz

04/27/2013 03:30:15 PM · #19

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

I take it back, that pun is now the nerdiest thing in this thread.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

04/27/2013 04:12:47 PM · #20

Originally posted by smardaz:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:
What on EARTH is nerdly about trekking around in the wilderness exploring for raw materials?

I take it back, that pun is now the nerdiest thing in this thread.

Jejeje...

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

04/27/2013 04:16:07 PM · #21

Originally posted by BrennanOB:

Though that definition has much more negative view of the word geek which my daughter and friends use positively, as in to geek out when focusing deeply on any area of specialized knowledge. She would describe the guys in the image as "bomb geeks", and that would be a good thing.

As originally coined, the "geek" was the grotesque, carnival-sideshow performer who bit the heads off live chickens and junk like that :-)