Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have discovered that peeling sticky tape in a Vacuum produces enough X-rays to take an image. The image above shows the X-rays emitted while Scotch tape is peeled in a vacuum, and the picture below show an actual X-ray of a researcher’s finger on the tape, but is superimposed over the finger for reference.

The X-ray phenomenon was noted as far back as 1605, and again in 1953, but no one believe those scientists until now. The amount of X-rays given off by peeling Scotch tape in a vacuum is 5 times more than X-rays given off by a lightening strike.

Read more about this incredible discovery here, or here. Click here to see video of the actual experiments showing the X-rays being emitted. Embedded below is the shorter version of the full video.

Scientists theorize that a much cheaper, and smaller, X-ray machine can now be built using sticky tape being peeled in vacuum. Not only will this reduce the cost of X-rays, but it will make it possible to take X-rays in areas where there is no electricity, except the electricity provided by a hand crank.

X-ray technicians should be worried about job security.