Tiny radioactive capsule found after search of vast swath of Australia: "Needle in a haystack"

Perth, Australia — Authorities in Western Australia on Wednesday recovered a tiny but dangerous radioactive capsule that fell off a truck while being transported along an 870-mile highway last month in what an official said was like finding a needle in a haystack.

Officials said the capsule the size of a pea was found south of Newman on the Great Northern Highway. It was detected by a search vehicle travelling at 43 miles per hour when specialist equipment picked up radiation the capsule was emitting. 

Portable search equipment was then used to locate it 6-and-a-half feet from the side of the road.