The History of Invisible Ink 41
As a kid I had a minor obsession with invisible ink after learning about it in a science club. An impressive stack of vinegar and lemon scented papers filled my desk, but the history of invisible ink is much more interesting than a summer enrichment program. Starting with the Roman general Pliny the Elder using milk from the thithymallus plant, to modern inks which are only visible under UV light, the science of invisible ink has grown quite complex. Some of the oldest CIA documents contain recipes for special inks, and MI6 and their very own "adult" mixture during WW1.
Cumming? (Score:1)
That's really his name?
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That could be the last name of the next Bond girl, and then anyone who giggles can be told "Hey don't laugh, that's a real name!"
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There's also a city/town near where I live called Cumming. Yea. The road signs say "Cumming, next exit".
Mansfield Cumming (Score:2)
From the last link:
Mansfield Cumming,
In October he noted that he "heard from C that the best invisible ink is semen", which did not react to the main methods of detection. Furthermore it had the advantage of being readily available
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Oh, it gets better... next two paragraphs:
However, the discovery also led to some further problems, with the agent who had identified the novel use having to be moved from his department after becoming the butt of jokes.
In addition, at least one agent had to be reminded to use only fresh supplies of the 'ink' when correspondents began noticing an unusual smell.
jizz not the best (Score:2)
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Better to use "ink" that only show under uncommon reagent, but that user would be reasonably expected to possess for another use.
But any other "ink" wouldn't be nearly us fun to obtain, especially for the female agents.
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But then,I don't think I'd want my DNA in the hands of the enemy, should security be compromised.
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Wouldn't that be just half of the DNA?
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Hmm.. if he had a threesome, it could bring a whole new meaning to "man in the middle atta
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The best invisible ink comes from your body (Score:1)
An old Roman version of invisible ink can be made in your own home. You need to collect your urine for several days and keep it uncovered in the sun so that it becomes more concentrated. keep it inside, like on your kitchen counter so it doesn't become contaminated with windblow stuff. after several days, it will become a dark amber color... this is what you want... for each gallon of urine, add two teaspoons of vinegar, one teaspoon of green food coloring (we're using a oxidized copper ion here), and
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and finally.... to develop it... and remember, this only works on April 1st... is to use a concentrated Plutonium solution wiped over the surface with an organic cloth like cotton or rabbit skin
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Informative, but honestly who is going to need a gallon of invisible ink? And I quail at the thought of "mix it all together with your hands and dip a straw into it and suck it up into the straw"
Why can't we just make a very simple fountain style pen using a twig and pocket knife?
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You missed the part where it was all an elaborate scheme to get you to suck up several-day-old urine in a straw.
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You missed the part where it was all an elaborate scheme to get you to suck up several-day-old urine in a straw.
BINGO! You win.
I, however, fail, because I meant to submit it as Anonymous Coward... oh well....
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we're using a oxidized copper ion here
I am dying to know where is here, where you find yourself in common need of peeing in a jar to make invisible ink.
Been working on the digital version (Score:1)
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Whitespace programming language (Score:2)
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One of the tricks of invisible ink is being able to read it later by some means.
Secretion message (Score:1)
Did every MI6 agent get a stack of porn to use when writing hidden messages?
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Have you watched any James Bond movies? Why would you need magazines when you had all these women swarming you all the time.
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Read (Score:1)
read that!
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Tying it all together ... (Score:2)