Is Airport Security Effective? | The Scientific Breakdown

Long lines, metal detectors and pat downs are a common staple of the airport process. But are these security measures actually efficient and effective? Join Michael Aranda for a new episode of SciShow where he breaks down the science of the security process, the machines, and the reason behind them. Want more SciShow in person? We ll be at NerdCon: Nerdfighteria in Boston on February 25th and 26th! For more information, go to http://www.nerdconnerdfighteria.com/ Hosted by: Michael Aranda ---------- Support SciShow by becoming a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/scishow ---------- Dooblydoo thanks go to the following Patreon supporters -- we couldn t make SciShow without them! Shout out to James Harshaw, Kevin Bealer, Mark Terrio-Cameron, Patrick Merrithew, Accalia Elementia, Charles Southerland, Fatima Iqbal, Benny, Kyle Anderson, Tim Curwick, Will and Sonja Marple, Philippe von Bergen, Bryce Daifuku, Chris Peters, Kathy Philip, Patrick D. Ashmore, Charles George, Bader AlGhamdi. ---------- Like SciShow? Want to help support us, and also get things to put on your walls, cover your torso and hold your liquids? Check out our awesome products over at DFTBA Records: http://dftba.com/scishow ---------- Looking for SciShow elsewhere on the internet? Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scishow Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/scishow Tumblr: http://scishow.tumblr.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/thescishow ---------- Sources: http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/airport-security.htm http://www.sciencefocus.com/qa/how-does-airport-scanner-work http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB115521188119932078 https://books.google.com/books?id=9t4K0pShp80C&pg=PA202 http://www.livescience.com/8998-airport-ray-scanners-hazardous-health.html http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/02/17/tsa.hands.swabbing/ http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003991401500154X https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/where-oh-where-did-my-luggage-go/2014/11/24/16d168c6-69da-11e4-a31c-77759fc1eacc_story.html http://science.howstuffworks.com/backscatter-machines-vs-millimeter-wave-scanners1.htm https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Airport_security_lines.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FEMA_-_37752_-_Residents_at_the_airport_preparing_to_leave_Louisiana.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thank_you_TSA_(25958200086).jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Xray-verkehrshaus.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Provision_xray.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tech_backscatter.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Explosives_trace_scan_closeup.jpg