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Dmitry Lopatin, a 26-year-old scientist who invented a cheap new kind of solar battery, has come across an unexpected obstacle. He was slapped with a three-year suspended jail sentence, for using banned materials in his invention. The researcher was facing 11 years behind bars, but the prosecutor's office dealing with the case agreed that a suspended sentence would suffice, the TASS news agency reported.
From rt.com:
Lopatin got in trouble with the authorities for using a solvent called gamma-Butyrolactone in order to make his solar batteries. It turned out this was a banned substance in Russia. He had placed a mail order for the solvent from China, and he was arrested when he went to collect it from the post office in June.
The researcher had tried to use a different substance, but found that it was too toxic to work with.
"In my work I was using a solvent which is toxic and can cause cancer. That is why I tried to find a substitute. I found one via the Internet and ordered it," he told RT.
"A month and a half later the parcel reached customs and I was called in and detained. Police launched a criminal case against me and I was interrogated. There were several court hearings. I chose to order from China because of the strict laws there. I had no idea that in China I could order a solvent which is banned in Russia."
Given that he is a researcher, is the use of the banned substance reasonable?
Original Submission
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Monday July 20 2015, @12:21AM
Neutron activation of silver, also known as neutron fluorescence. At the time anyone could possess up to one gram provided you handled it properly.
For a good time, drive around with a calibration set in plain sight on your passenger seat.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 3, Informative) by Whoever on Monday July 20 2015, @12:51AM
Probably not necessary to have it in plain sight.
There are stories of people who received I-131 treatment (thyroid ablatement) and set off radiation detectors in tunnels and other transit points. For bonus points, travel in an RV and have the excreted I-131 in the RV's waste tank set of the detectors.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Dunbal on Monday July 20 2015, @03:52AM
But plutonium can't make you high, so it's ok. The problem is only with chemicals that can induce euphoria because artificially feeling good is bad, mmkay, don't do that.
(Score: 5, Funny) by davester666 on Monday July 20 2015, @04:35AM
"I chose to order from China because of the strict laws there."
Hah. Good one.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2015, @04:28PM
i don't understand why people don't know that neutrons are acctually zippers for the stable reality curtain: once you start zipping, it mostly runs all the way down. sometimes the curtain catches on you and runs you down too!