The other day when I was studying the Tu-160, a.k.a. the white swan, I read that it was painted anti-flash white. This paint gets its name because it is supposed to reflect some of the thermal radiation given off by atomic bombs when they go off. I imagine they were hoping to reflect the infrared radiation. Higher energy electromagnetic radiation, like X-rays and gamma rays aren't going to be dissuaded by mere paint, or even by a thin sheet of aluminum. Still, simple heat energy can cause plenty of damage all by itself, so maybe it would help. At least it might keep the air crew from being roasted alive. That way they can return to base and fill out their reports before they succumb to radiation poisoning from the atomic radiation that the paint did not reflect.
The other day there was a mystery radar event down at the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama. Well, it's a mystery to everyone who wasn't in on it. Looks like they might have been testing a new kind of chaff. Chaff. That's a funny word. Developed about the same time as radar (WW2) it wasn't initially used by either side because they were afraid that once the enemy caught on to it, they would start using it, which would render their radar useless. The original chaff was foil backed paper cut into thin strips one-half the wavelength of the radar you are trying to fool.
The stuff that turned up on the ground outside Redstone looked by little tufts of fiberglass. Wouldn't think fiberglass would reflect RADAR, but then maybe it's not ordinary fiberglass but some sooper-secret glass with little bits of magic inside.
P.S. Turns out the 'new' sports car is 14 years old. Several years ago the check engine light came on and previous owner parked it, not wanting to pay the German car dealer the umpteen zillion dollars they wanted to turn the light off. My neighbor rescued it and has spent the last couple of years removing the moss and tree and sap that had accumulated while it was parked.
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