Interesting facts about radiation

Radiation is a word frightening for most of us, associated with something invisible, intangible and deadly. In fact, it is true, although we will not forget that we, people living in the century of developed industry, are in themselves more radioactive than our ancestors some two hundred years ago. However, this is just not scary – scary is what radiation in large doses is capable of.

The most radioactive fruit is a banana. Bananas contain many potassium isotopes. True, as many of these fruits as necessary to earn radiation sickness, not one person to eat and ten lives.

Some time after the discovery of radium, this element was used in the preparation of certain beverages. However, its dangerous properties were quickly investigated.

Flags that American astronauts left on the Moon, will remain in a vacuum for eternity, but because of the solar radiation they fade and become white.

Protection from solar radiation is one of the main difficulties associated with flying in space.

During the construction of the Central Station in New York, radioactive granite was used – then the radiation was not yet known. As a result, the station building radiates a radioactive background more powerful than the average nuclear power plant.

Coal-fired thermal power plants emit more radiation into the atmosphere than atomic ones.

Inside the Chernobyl nuclear power plant grow mushrooms.

Contrary to popular belief, cockroaches are unable to survive a nuclear war.

Back in 1950, the US sold the children’s kit “Laboratory of Atomic Energy”, which consisted of several pieces of uranium ore.

In very rare cases, the iris can change the color from the effects of radiation.

The crew of the nuclear submarine receives a smaller dose of radiation than the average person on the surface. The reason for this is the protective effect of the water column and a smaller radiation background under the water than on land.

Untreated uranium ore does not radiate radiation.

Some people, strangely enough, still do not believe in the existence of radiation, considering it an invention and propaganda.

At present, there are no protective suits capable of at least temporarily neutralizing the effect of radiation exposure.

The sarcophagus, which is covered by the exploded fourth power unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, is slowly falling apart. If it finally collapses, it can provoke a serious ecological catastrophe.

On September 24, 2004, the most powerful stream of radioactive radiation hit the Earth in history. The cause was the explosion of a star that happened 50 thousand years ago, located 50 thousand light years from us. During this time, the release came to us and covered the Earth, but we were protected by the atmosphere.

Astronauts sometimes see bright flashes with closed eyes. This effect causes cosmic radiation radiation, “bombarding” the retina of the eye.

Soybeans planted in the Chernobyl exclusion zone have, over time, adapted and developed protection against radiation.

A strong dose of radiation can not cause long-term mutations – it’s a myth. Mutations, fixed in the offspring, can be caused only by long, from generation to generation, but by weak radiation.

The average resident of a modern metropolis emits more radiation than his mobile phone.

In a room, the radiation background is approximately twice as high as on the street.

Concrete walls help to reduce the amount of radiation received from outside, but they accumulate it, as a result of which they themselves begin to radiate.