30 times normal radiation at 40,000 ft

What type of detector is better for sensing cosmic rays at high altitude? A Geiger counter? A Gamma Ray Spectrometer? The answers are surprising.

00:00 Introduction
01:10 The detectors
03:23 The Radiation
05:46 The results
08:35 Summary
11:06 Close-out

[KarbineKyle]

That was very well done! I really like your videos! Ionizing radiation is my go-to hobby! That's a real shame about the imDetek RAM-01–which uses CZT, yet it's a PoS! That sucks! I'd love to get a gamma ray spectrometer that uses CZT! I really hope Radiacode or Raysid will consider improvising their devices with CZT, for example! It has much better resolution–comparable to CeBr3! Now, I don't own one, but I'd like to get one someday. I have a GammaSpectacular GS-PRO with the 1.5" NaI:Tl crystal–which interfaces with my small laptop. I'd prefer one a larger crystal,
like 3", but it was pricy. Thank you for sharing your findings and work!

[WRND]

A man of culture. Not many people know of airplane gremlins these days. Cheers.

[MikeG]

🙂 As usual, I enjoy your little videos and find them interesting.

I need to transit through USA with AA at least couple times a year... Last spring, my transcontinental flight was "Premium economy" ... for the short AA flight before this, I was bumped up to business since there's no premium economy on that short flight. The business flight attendant's name was Shirley. I was so tempted to quote Airplane and say “Surely you can't be serious"... If I see her again, I definitely will.

Maybe my little anecdote will be enjoyable. Some day, I may get my shit together enough to make interesting little videos.

[Nantagonist]

8-bit meets lounge muzak meets intergalactic visitors, hell yeah.

[maxbartoshik]

I personally experienced the next:
1) radiation level depends on flight altitude, just in case check flightradar24 data for your flight to see if they moved higher when you saw an increase of readings
2) radiation level depends on latitude, more to the north - higher the radiation level and vice versa
3) gamma spectrum shows a peak near 511 keV, evidence of positron-electron annihilation
4) muons are detected directly by both scintillators and geiger counters, and register rate is close to 100%, as far as I remember. But conversion rate counts/sieverts is different and, probably, wrong for both detectors.
5) there is a very rare case which is called “gamma glow” and could happen during thunderstorm. I’d be happy to detect it as well

[Mr_Smarty_Pants]

very interesting video once again, i hope for a bit more cursing next time :D btw, i think i'm going to order an FS-5000 as a first detector

[Neptunium]

Another very interesting and very well made video sir! There is also quite a bit of neutrons up there! You`re right about the Cd/Te (Zn) detector, their are very good generating spectrum! My X-ray spectrometers allows for XRF identification and has a small Cd/Te detector. Ultimately, the size of the detector determines the max energy (roughly speaking) They really missed the mark on that one for sure! give it time maybe they`ll come up with upgrades?

[das]

I did exactly this on a long trip in the air. I measured audio intensity and radiation with a cheap Geiger . What surprised me was how loud a plane is at lower frequencies. If I recall it was well and truly above safe levels for hearing lose . You might measure this next time and see what you think.

[samoime]

nice measurement, did you try over Kerala India or Minas Brazil? The background there is about 80 times higher then average. Maybe you may try the CZT at high exposure, it is known for the low sensitivity and high spectral resolution. There is the other Geiger counter type based on photodiode and is as low sensitive as about 10 cpm/ uSv/h, but should also mean the low background for alpha and beta count. Some studies refer to higher disease incidence at the crew, related to higher radiation exposure.

[ckuethe]

I have almost a year of flight related logs. spectrograms of airport xrays. spectrograms and tracks of long haul flights, both day and night.

[nuovoaccount]

Hi haha what software did you use to make the 1:15 graphics? Is it the same software you usually edit your videos in?

[jtcustomknives]

If you had $300-$400 to spend on a detector which one would you pick. I was eyeballing the 103. I have started working on radium clocks and I was wanting something sensitive enough to check my work area for contamination. Thank you

[The-One-and-Only]

TSA doesn't think the radiacode 102 is for insulin... darn, I guess I can't get on the plane faster

(Do they question you why you have one or three, I haven't gone through TSA in years)

[ralger]

Serendipitous I’m just going on a long flight in early June I’ll pack my Bosean 5000 along with my socks now 👍☝️😊

[Matthew.Morycinski]

Good data. Try and repeat in 5 to 7 years during the next solar minimum. The background should increase due to less solar wind pushing cosmic rays away.

[PeterMarchl]

Nice! I like the transitions and effects and animations you include and they're getting ever more professional!
I may get one of them bosean devices. So I could also partecipate in your gm tube experiment.. I'd have wished to see the "the other of the Chinese devices you tested and I'm fighting with too" up there! Or is it too risky to loose it to some ignorant uniformed twit?

[Ales.]

Maybe the telluride sensor responds strictly to gamma only, so it ignores muons. I think it's worth testing with a stronger gamma source.

[poponachtschnecke]

Do you have an opinion on the GQ GMC -500Plus? I am trying to stay below $200 usd, but I can't tell if any in that pricepoint are worth it, or if I should just wait and spend more.

[RjMacProductions]

I'd be curious to see you do a review of the "Terra-P" (by Ecotest)... It's what they use at Chernobyl, so I'd assume they did their due diligence, but you never know haha

[joehopfield]

Nervous flying? Just think how often we old software engineers cringe.