Physicists used a ferret to clean particle accelerator tubes.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/felicia-ferret-particle-accelerator-fermilab

246 points · 20 comments · view on lemmy.world

20 Comments

blueamigafan@lemmy.world · 52 pts · 174d (1 reply)

They were used in aircraft manufacture for years to help run cables through

cannedtuna@lemmy.world · 42 pts · 174d

Ah! So that explains why there are camera and cable tools called ferrets

homes@piefed.world · 50 pts · 174d

This is my new favorite thing about particle accelerators

DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world · 39 pts · 174d (3 replies)

They do love tubes, and they can turn around inside them.

https://youtu.be/rrVKtQozvKQ?t=31

tacosanonymous@mander.xyz · 32 pts · 174d (1 reply)

When I had my girls, I invested so much money in pipes. It was like futurama in their room. They loved it.

night_petal@piefed.social · 9 pts · 174d

I love ferrets so much. They love playing and are ultra cute. I just wish I could stand the smell.

whelk@retrolemmy.com · 4 pts · 174d

I think I just learned I might have a degree of claustrophobia or something because reading the second part made me suddenly very anxious

ReluctantMuskrat@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 174d (1 reply)

Anyone that's not had the joy of playing with a ferret have missed out.

AlligatorBlizzard@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 174d

Yeah but they're more likely to have their Achilles tendons so there's that.

A friend of mine had one, I volunteered to ferret sit when they went on vacation. The ferret was adorable but also hyperactive enough that I never want one for a pet.

SadSadSatellite@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 15 pts · 174d (1 reply)

If I recall correctly, (ignoring that I could look it up right now) I believe ferrets were specifically bred to run cables underground.

Edit: I'm apparently full of shit. That being said, I really appreciate that the wikipedia page has a dropdown section titled Other Uses.

setsneedtofeed@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 174d

halloejsovs@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 174d (1 reply)

How has no one made a lemmywinks reference yet?

I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world · 26 pts · 174d

Because lemmywinks was a gerbil. Ferrets aren't even rodents.

ZombieChicken@reddthat.com · 7 pts · 174d (2 replies)

Kinda want to know what would happen if they turned on the P. A., though I wish no harm to the ferret. Would that tickle? Would it burn through like a laser? Or would it just give you megacancer?

Is there a superperson that got their powers from a P.A.?

Chrobin@discuss.tchncs.de · 11 pts · 174d (1 reply)
ZombieChicken@reddthat.com · 9 pts · 174d

Thank you for the link.

Please do not turn on beam with ferret in. Please and thank you.

echodot@feddit.uk · 4 pts · 174d

Arr yes, the Kitten Snake

otter@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 173d

They're professional chimney squeaks, now?

Etterra@discuss.online · 2 pts · 173d (1 reply)

So, what, they stuck a broom handle up it's butt and used him like a cotton swab? That's pretty fucked up.

randint@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz · 5 pts · 173d

don't kink shame the ferret