Recently, TSA shut down the Eppley Terminal in Omaha for several hours and called in the bomb squad over a “suspicious-looking item” in a carry on bag. Turns out the item was a science experiment in a mint tin from an Oregon graduate student who was bringing the project home. You can see from the picture below (from the TSA blog post) it’s an item that, frankly, could have been in any respectable geek’s luggage.

Moral of the story? Next time you fly, skip the X-ray check your luggage. Twenty points to the person who can guess what this object is actually supposed to do. Here’s a hint: it’s not a bomb.

Via Make