NARITA, Chiba Pref. (Kyodo) A new security scanner that can detect plastic explosives and hazardous liquids has been developed by a research team led by Tohoku University and will be installed for testing in as early as a few weeks at Narita International Airport.

The device using highly translucent millimeter waves represents a breakthrough as those explosives and materials under layers of clothing could slip through existing airport screening systems, which generally consist of metal detectors and visual contact, according to the team.

Designed to catch the weak millimeter waves naturally radiated from the body and objects, the device poses no health risks. Scanners in pilot applications abroad pass electromagnetic waves over people, the team said.