Dr. IV Mirus on radiation
Dr. IV Mirus: With the release of the upcoming movie 'Oppenheimer', I thought it'd be the perfect time to talk about a topic that often comes up in the film: radiation.
What is radiation? It is the energy, the heat that's released when atoms interact, if they bond and then split, it releases energy. That energy causes a chain reaction that impacts multiple atoms. That comes from subatomic particles. This can come from natural sources like the sun, or person-made ones like X-ray machines, and yes, nuclear bombs.
Radiation comes in different forms - Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, each with different properties. Alpha particles can be blocked by just a sheet of paper. Beta particles need plastic or glass to block them. Gamma rays can pass through almost everything - they can only be stopped by thick lead.
Now, onto the medical side. Exposure to radiation can have varying effects on our bodies, depending on the type and amount of radiation, the length of exposure, and which part of the body is exposed.
Radiation can damage the cells in our body, especially our DNA. This can lead to cancer, radiation sickness, and in extremely high doses, it can be fatal.
But don’t be too concerned. Radiation, when understood and respected, can also be incredibly useful. We can use radiation for communications, medical imaging, and even to heat up our food with a microwave!
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However, it's essential we learn from history. A great example is the incidents of the Fukushima nuclear disaster (2011), the Chernobyl disaster (1986), the Three Mile Island accident (1979). When radiation spreads out of control, it can cause illnesses and death.
But remember, we use radiation every day in medicine to diagnose and treat diseases - including those used to find and treat cancer! We have used radiation to save lives. The key here is control. In the medical field, we use carefully controlled amounts of radiation for the betterment of our health.
The 'Oppenheimer' movie tells a story about the incredible power that humanity can wield, but it also serves as a reminder about the importance of handling such power responsibly with knowledge.