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The Daily Insight Hub

What can xray scanners not see through?

Author

Daniel Santos

Updated on February 10, 2026

These x-rays only have to penetrate through skin, bone and water, so there is no need for them to show color. Doctors are looking for small threats inside the body, so detailed shades of grey better help them locate these issues. Security x-rays can be either black and white or in color.

Can xray machines detect cash?

With an X-ray machine, a screener spots a dense mass in a piece of luggage. If it’s an unusually large sum of cash, the government takes it on the suspicion that it’s drug money. In fact, the dozens of travelers relieved of their money were sent on their way.

Can security scanner detect money?

Think those TSA agents waving a metal-detecting wand at your pockets only know how many coins you’re carrying? Think again. Metal detectors can tell how much cash is on you, too, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Washington’s Applied Physics Laboratory in Seattle, the Daily Mail reported.

What can TSA scanners see?

Airport scanners can detect metallic and non- metallic objects on the body, including drugs and gold, hidden under the clothes and in baggage. Still, most times, they cannot detect the exact material, but provide visual cues about the material of the object, in the form of different colors.

Can airport bag scanners detect drugs?

Do airport scanners detect drugs? Technically, modern Millimeter-Wave and Backscatter airport security scanners do not detect drugs. However, they make them very easy to spot, and your chances of getting caught depends entirely on how attentive the airport security crew is.

Can Airport Body Scanners See tampons?

Can Body scanners see tampons? Standard security scanners used by security use backscatter X-rays that do not penetrate the body, they just see through clothes and do not present an anatomically correct image to the operator, so a tampon, inserted, would not show up.

Can TSA see your junk?

“A TSA agent in another room will see an image of your body that could include a revealing look at your entire body, including breasts, genitals, buttocks, and external medical devices.”

Can the airport X-ray machine scan money?

A good X-Ray screener can always detect money in checked-in baggage. The money will appear as thick rectangle box, like a book.

How can I Check my ATM for cameras?

Check for cameras: Sometimes hackers looking to get PINs put cameras on the light above the keypad. Feel the top for anything protruding that could be a camera. Pull on the card slot: Card stealers can’t spend a long time messing with an ATM, so card skimmers are often easy to instal and remove.

What are the sensors on an ATM card reader?

1) Sensors to detect any obstruction in front of the the card-reader for extended periods of time it’ll trigger an alert. These sensors are light sensors, proximity sensors and beam sensors depending on the ATM in question. These are both mounted inside the card reader and around the device in general. 2) Sensors to detect constant RF signals.

What do the patterns on airport X rays mean?

Rather than producing conventional, picture-like images the way medical X-rays and current airport security X-rays do, it creates patterns. The patterns are material signatures for different substances that can then be read and interpreted by the system’s software.