From: henry@spsystems.net   
      
   In article ,   
   Keith F. Lynch  wrote:   
   >> (Much of the concern about passing magnetic media through, e.g.,   
   >> airport X-ray machines is baseless superstition.  To the extent that   
   >> it's legitimate, the issue is magnetic fields associated with the   
   >> equipment, rather than the X-rays themselves.)   
   >   
   >I think it's very legitimate.  Conveyer belts, or rather the motors   
   >that drive them, can easily erase tapes, diskettes, and disks, and   
   >other magnetic media on the belt.   
      
   While it is possible, "easily" is a vast overstatement.  Motors usually   
   don't produce strong external magnetic fields, and magnetic media are much   
   more robust than people commonly think -- to have any effect at all, a   
   magnet must be either very strong or very close (practically touching the   
   media).   
   --   
   MOST launched 30 June; first light, 29 July; 5arcsec    | Henry Spencer   
   pointing, 10 Sept; first science, early Oct; all well.  | henry@spsystems.net   
      
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