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Comments on: Road Trip 2009 picture of the day: What is it?

In Arco, Idaho, CNET News' Daniel Terdiman comes across two odd yellow spheres. Can you tell him what they are?

Add a Comment (Log in or register) (17 Comments)


by sinatra87 July 8, 2009 11:47 AM PDT: are there markings on the poles? is it used to measure snow depth?; Like this Reply to this comment


by DatabaseDoctor July 8, 2009 11:54 AM PDT: Its a political idiocy meter. The higher the yellow float is in the frame, the more political BS we're experiencing. Notice that it's at its maximum level.; Like this Reply to this comment


by tektaktyks July 8, 2009 12:13 PM PDT: it is measuring the earthquakes?
ps :@DatabaseDoctor-very funny; Like this Reply to this comment


by tektaktyks July 8, 2009 12:15 PM PDT: it is measuring the earthquakes? or its a genetically engineered potato
ps :@DatabaseDoctor-very funny; Like this Reply to this comment


by sinatra87 July 8, 2009 12:32 PM PDT: I know that ARCO Idaho was the first town to use nuclear power as a source of electricity. Is the sphere somehow related to measuring nuclear radiation levels. Forgive me if i know nothing of which i am talking about.; Like this Reply to this comment


by tyndmar July 8, 2009 12:41 PM PDT: as Arco was the home of the world's first nuclear reactor, would this be some type of dosimeter?; Like this Reply to this comment


by tolnay July 8, 2009 2:09 PM PDT: Maybe it's a compost container. Suspended to keep critters out.; Like this Reply to this comment


by bigguy1951 July 8, 2009 2:19 PM PDT: Perhaps it is some sort of liquid natural gas or propane storage.; Like this Reply to this comment


by higleydc July 8, 2009 2:27 PM PDT: Seismometers within the yellow spheres record ground motion generated by seismic waves traveling through the earth's mantle.; Like this Reply to this comment


by filcano July 8, 2009 8:25 PM PDT: It's an Idahoan UFO hitching post, link related.
http://www.nuforc.org/webreports/027/S27783.html; Like this Reply to this comment


by gthoennes July 9, 2009 6:47 AM PDT: Transponder beacon.; Like this Reply to this comment

by Lord_Wheezy July 9, 2009 7:12 AM PDT

It goes on high voltage power lines to provide visibility to aircraft.

Like this Reply to this comment


by mayhem6ix July 9, 2009 2:10 PM PDT: I think that is correct, I have seen them installed above the Mississippi river from a helicopter by a guy hanging off of it. I often wondered if he got hazard pay for that....; Like this


by Been_there_Saw_it_before July 9, 2009 1:45 PM PDT: So what is the steam punk object? My guess is a piece of harvesting equipment, possibly potatos.; Like this Reply to this comment


by dsmaltais July 12, 2009 9:59 AM PDT: Could this be a satellite dish protector from snow and ice buildup. In North America during winter this can be a problem for satellite TV users. Accumulation of snow and ice on the satellite TV dish antenna is one of several causes of poor signal strength.; Like this Reply to this comment


by maggie99 July 13, 2009 12:12 PM PDT: did you ever tell us what it is? If so I missed it.; Like this Reply to this comment


by darkmyst85 July 14, 2009 11:46 AM PDT: its a Emergency Air Sphere, I have seen one at the oak ridge facility that created the first nuclear bomb, http://www.photographyserved.com/Gallery/Slouching-towards-Bethlehem-___/56780
its in the 9th picture from the top.; Like this Reply to this comment

(17 Comments)

About Geek Gestalt

Daniel Terdiman, uniquely positioned to take you into the middle of another side of technology, chronicles his explorations of the "fun beat," from cultural phenomena such as Burning Man to cutting-edge aircraft to game conventions.