In order to stimulate some questions for the coming CC, here is the post I submitted yesterday on the IH SSTY board in answer to Chuck. Since there doesn't seem to be much cross-flow, I'll take the liberty of posting it here also. Perhaps it may serve to help clear up some possible misconceptions. FWIW.
NC
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Good luck to you. I am holding my shares, on which I'm fairly well underwater. Like HISC, SSTY is either a scam, or it isn't. If the former, kiss the money goodbye, if the latter, then it may well be a multi-bagger.
Keep in mind that SSTY is not pioneering the technology in general. It is applying well-known technology to a niche use. It is using the XRF scanners manufactured by Innov-X, one of three major makers. SSTY may or may not be making its own tracer (I.D.-ology Labs?), which has nothing to do at all with DNA. The S-DNA ("Synthetic DNA") is a sales hype, I'm guessing used to denote the many possible combinations available. The tracer actually consists of a number of different kinds of rare earth metals which will fluoresce when struck by X-rays. Carbon and hydrogen in DNA won't do this as the atomic electron orbits don't possess the proper energy levels; the K and L shell orbitals in metals are needed to emit the correct wavelengths.
Given the wavelengths and relative intensity of the stimulated fluorescence, the scanner can determine the type and relative quantities of the rare earth metals in the tracer, which, if the mixture is then recognized, is equated to essentially a bar code number, which is in turn connected to the attached info file (item type, maker, shipment number, whatever).
There are many current uses for X-ray fluorescent scanners, such as quantifying the alloying agents in critical metal components and looking for trace metal pollutants. From what I've seen so far, SSTY is the only company advancing this technology for anti-counterfeiting purposes, but I could well be mistaken here. Even if SSTY is scam-free, it could still get scooped by someone else with more horsepower jumping onto this application.
So, my final analysis is that I've personally sunk enough dough into this one until concrete results are forthcoming. SSTY has a tarnished history that does not inspire full confidence, IMO. My best wishes for longs such as myself, but don't bet (and it's indeed a bet, not yet an investment) more than you can afford to kiss off without crying. Again, JMO.
NC |
