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Doug McMakin
Research engineer who helped develop millimeter-wave body-scanning technology and explains the technical workings and limitations of airport scanners.
Best podcasts with Doug McMakin
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162 snips
Dec 19, 2025
• 59min
A Perfectly Average Anomaly
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Doug McMakin, a research engineer behind millimeter-wave body-scanning technology, shares insights into how and why these scanners might flag certain body parts. Frequent traveler Travis recounts his bizarre experiences being consistently flagged on his trips, sparking a curious investigation. The duo discusses theories ranging from clothing geometry to moisture affecting scan results, even humorously experimenting with wetting clothes to see if it triggers alarms. The conversation dives into privacy issues and the realities of automated detection, leaving many questions unanswered.
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