Saturday, December 24, 2005
Radioactive ManAn update on our citizen scientist who is trying to build a mini cyclotron in his home in Anchorage, Alaska. On Monday, Albert Swank unfortunately lost Round One. After a lengthy hearing, the Planning and Zoning Commision recommended that the city deny him a permit for the project. I say it's unfortunate because it is really a noble cause -- presently all radioactive tracer material needed to perform PET scans for cancer patients has to be flown in from Seattle, a drawback due to the short half-life of the substance -- and also because if he succeeds in building it in Alaska, that means he won't build it here, next to my house. Just joking, of course. I firmly believe that a man should be able to put a cyclotron anywhere he wants within his own home. As long as he paints it beige so it doesn't clash with the neighborhood color theme.
Swank has strong support of course, especially in the scientific community. That includes Richard Wahl, Professor of radiology at Johns Hopkins University which is donating the cyclotron, and Shawn Carlson, founder of the Society for Amateur Scientists, a group dedicated to "helping ordinary people do extraordinary science." Basically showing them how to make their own firecrackers. Carlson thinks that the cyclotron is no more dangerous than welding, for example, and people should get educated on the true risk instead of giving in to paranoia.
But most of Swank's neighbors remain opposed. First they enlisted an FBI agent to go ask questions, posing as a mailman, but the FBI man was spotted immediately and shooed away. Poor guy, he must have thought he was too smart to learn from Columbo. Did he forget the trench coat? Then the neighbors packed the city hearing and complained that Swank wanted to put a Three Mile Island reactor in the middle of a residential area. They pointed out that there are three schools, three churches and hundreds of homes nearby. And the final argument: The cyclotron can cause "death or blindness and/or sterility." Note the "and/or." It can make you die impotent. With that, the planning board decided against the building request. Sex wins again.
Swank hasn't said what he will do next. The cyclotron is being dismantled at Johns Hopkins and will soon be on its way. Maybe he should appeal, and buy everyone in his neighborhood lead underpants for Christmas.
- posted by Woofwoof @ 6:20 AM
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It's become a pretty bitter and personal fight for both sides. The city and state are both coming down against him, so I doubt he'll be able to build it according to his current plan.
This is getting so irrational. You have to respect someone for trying so hard against all odds. I hope he wins.
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# posted by 
: 25 December, 2005 10:16
: 25 December, 2005 10:16<< Home
