Sploid reader Andrew Seltzman sent us these videos of his custom-made radiation-shielded GoPro camera going under an industrial irradiator and getting bombarded by X-rays. Reminder: Getting irradiated by a particle accelerator doesn't give you superpowers. I think.

[The industrial irradiator] uses a particle accelerator to irradiate samples on a moving cart with a high energy electron beam(up to 5MeV, 20mA beam). Due to the high radiation levels in the area where the beam hits the samples it would be lethal for a person to directly observe the process, and unshielded cameras would pick up considerable interference from the x-rays produced when the beam hits the cart and samples.


The Gopro Hero3+ above was sent through electron beam irradiator enclosed in a 1/4" thick lead box with a 1" thick, 50% lead glass window. Additionally there is a 1/4" thick lead plate above the camera box to provide shielding from direct irradiation from the beam.

This video shows some calcite going through the conveyor. It glows because of the electron beams hitting it.

This one shows a sheet of acrylic being bombarded with the X-rays, as the GoPro films.

Radiation shielded Gopro Hero 3+ Silver sent through electron beam irradiator. Looking directly up off of a 45 degree stainless mirror at 3/4" thick acrylic plate and 1000rem (10Sv) dosimeter sticker on bottom of plate as they pass under the irradiation beam. Note how fast the dosimeter turns black as it nears the beam. It is fully black even before it passes under the beam. This is due to electron bremsstrahlung from the electron beam hitting the carts. The acrylic continuously discharges as it passes under the beam due to the rough cut edges.