X-Ray Vision
(SFX: superman music) 
ONE OF SUPERMAN'S MANY IMPRESSIVE SUPERPOWERS IS HIS X-RAY VISION--THE ABILITY
TO SEE RIGHT THROUGH WALLS AND DOORS AND CHECK IF ANYONE IS HIDING BEHIND
THEM. IT'S A NEAT TRICK, AND GENE GRENEKER WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT WORK FOR PEOPLE
BORN ON EARTH AS WELL AS THOSE BORN ON KRYPTON.  GRENEKER IS A SCIENTIST AT
GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND HE'S BUILT A RADAR FLASHLIGHT THAT CAN SEE
THROUGH WALLS. 

Greneker: "The . . . flashlight is designed to detect an individual standing . . .typically four
feet behind an 8 inch cinder block wall and up to about 10 feet behind a wooden
door." 

THE FLASHLIGHT SENDS OUT A RADAR SIGNAL MUCH LIKE A POLICE CAR DOES IN A SPEED
TRAP.  WHEN THE RADAR HITS SOMETHING, IT BOUNCES BACK.  

(SFX: radar "noises", going out, reflecting back) 

AND IF THAT SOMETHING IS MOVING, THEN THE REFLECTED RADAR COMES BACK WITH A
DIFFERENT FREQUENCY.  IN A SPEED TRAP, A POLICE OFFICER CAN CHECK THE CHANGE
IN FREQUENCY AND TELL HOW FAST A CAR IS GOING.  GRENEKER'S FLASHLIGHT WORKS
ON THE SAME PRINCIPLE BUT IT'S MUCH MORE SENSITIVE. 

Greneker: "In the case of the individual standing behind a wall or behind a door, when
that individual breathes . . the chest wall moves very slightly and that shifts the frequency
fo the transmitted wave, and that's what we're detecting."

EVEN IF A PERSON TRIES TO HOLD PERFECTLY STILL, THE RADAR CAN SENSE THE MOTION
OF HIS LUNGS INHALING.  TO ANALYZE THE REFLECTED WAVE SO PRECISELY TAKES A LOT
OF COMPUTER PROCESSING AND THAT'S THE MAIN THING GRENEKER HAS LEARNED HOW
TO IMPROVE.  RIGHT NOW, THAT PROCESSING GOES ON OUTSIDE OF THE FLASHLIGHT, BUT
GRENEKER HOPES TO GET THE WHOLE THING BUNDLED UP INTO A HAND-HELD VERSION
SOON.