| Radioactivity can be one of the most confusing topics | | | | Medicine and fields such as archaeology have seen |
| in science to many today. Its usefulness in a broad | | | | huge advances in their fields due to the uses of |
| array of scientific arenas is undoubtedly substantial, | | | | technology derived from radiation studies. In modern |
| and yet the same technology that can be used to | | | | medicine, radioactive isotopes are used as forms of |
| solve problems can also be used for huge amounts of | | | | tracers to follow how certain body processes function. |
| destruction and long term consequences. | | | | Once ingested the isotopes can be followed and have |
| While most people alive today have heard of radiation | | | | been extremely useful in the diagnosis of disease and |
| and its uses and potential disastrous penalties they | | | | the research related to solving some of medicines |
| may not know exactly what it is, and their knowledge | | | | biggest mysteries. Archaeology on the other hand |
| of the subject is limited to only what they hear from | | | | uses radiation in a much different way. Since radiation |
| news sources or medical journals. Simply put, | | | | is derived primarily from natural forms, scientists have |
| radioactivity refers to the unpredictable release of | | | | been able to find ways to use it to help define the |
| energy from 'unstable' atoms. Unlike stable atoms, | | | | history and length of life on the planet earth. Living |
| which do not change throughout their lifetime, unstable | | | | organisms take in radiation through the environment |
| atoms break down and emit radioactivity from their | | | | through carbon, however once deceased the |
| nucleus as they break down (also referred to as | | | | organism stops its intake of carbon and the amount |
| decay). Elements such as uranium, potassium, and | | | | that is present slowly decreases over time. The |
| thorium (isotopes) decay fairly easily to form smaller, | | | | amount of time it takes for the decrease to happen is |
| lighter atoms, while other more stable elements may | | | | predictable and scientists use this information to date |
| take longer. | | | | events that have occurred on our planet. |
| While radiation and radioactivity seem to be terms that | | | | Although complicated the science of radiation and |
| refer to twentieth century science topics, the | | | | radioactivity has fascinated researchers due to its |
| phenomena was actually discovered back in 1896 by | | | | unlimited potential and usefulness. However the vast |
| Antoine Becquerel somewhat by accident. Becquerel, | | | | variety of uses also has its consequences and must |
| who studied photography and x-rays, had put | | | | be watched carefully. Perfect proof for this can be |
| photographic plates in a drawer with uranium salts. To | | | | seen in the meltdown of a Ukrainian nuclear reactor |
| his surprise the photographic plates became exposed | | | | that occurred during the cold war. Disastrous effects |
| without the presence of a purposefully placed energy | | | | of this accident are still in effect to this day and the |
| source, as the uranium has supplied the needed | | | | surrounding population and terrain will be scarred for a |
| energy. In honor of his work in the field, the standard | | | | long period of time. Radioactive materials do have their |
| unit of measure for radiation was named the | | | | uses, but we must be responsible with the technology |
| Becquerel. | | | | and use it appropriately to help further our knowledge. |