X-Message-Number: 13726
From: 
Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 05:30:20 EDT
Subject: Re: looking at biochemical compounds with X-rays

> One major
> problem with any version of X-rays (assuming to start that all the
> physical problems of working with X-rays have been dealt with) is
> that they will at best only indirectly tell us about the BIOCHEMICALS
> involved. And those biochemicals are important. After all, between 
> every neuron there will be BOTH chemical and electrical transmission,
> and seeing only one gives a false picture.
> 
>       Best and long long life to all,
> 
>           Thomas Donaldson
>
Thomas,

All brain activities are electrochemical, so we need to know what
molecules are present are where they are.

Medical X-rays are in the energy range 30 - 100 keV because
soft tissues must not absorb them. I have argued to use soft
rays in the 0.5 - 2 keV domain to see carbon and heavier atoms.
Knowing their positions and the law of chemistry, it is simple to
identify any molecule.

This is a requirement not only for neuron but for any cell in the brain.
If we want someday to undertake the task of bringing back people in
cryostasis with nanotech repair systems, an map of each molecule
in the body will be requirred. This is a bigger challenge that the
brain only scanning for the purpose of uploading but the technology
is the same.

Yvan Bozzonetti.

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