A truck loaded with Cobalt 60 was hijacked in Mexico today. That is dangerous stuff. Lets take a moment to review: Alpha Rays-- Most radiation consists of Alpha Rays (uranium, plutonium, thorium, etc.). Alpha rays are just atoms of helium that have been ejected from a radioactive source (like those above), but at very high speeds. The speed does the damage. HOWEVER, alpha rays CANNOT pass through your skin. They are only dangerous if ingested. Beta Rays-- The second most common form of radiation are Beta Rays. This occurs when a nucleus is bombarded by neutrons and one sticks. So this only occurs in very specialized environments. When a neutron sticks it results in an unstable isotope, which nature doesnt like. So the neutron is converted to a proton and an electron. The proton remains in the nucleus, creating a new element, but the electron, with a negative charge HAS TO BE SPIT OUT (You cant have a negative charge in the nucleus). The ejected electron is a Beta Ray. It is extremely small. It can pass through skin, but probably wont. It will more likely glance off a person. It is more dangerous than Alpha Rays, but less likely. X-Rays-- These are high energy light photons. Atoms have shells of electron levels. Each level has a specific energy. There are high energy shells and low energy shells. If an electron jumps one shell to the next energy level and falls back to its original level, it will give off light. Thats how neon lights work. However, if an electron jumps from the lowest level all the way to the highest level and then falls all the way back, it will give off massively more energy. This energy is also a form of light, X-Ray light. X-Rays are dangerous. They will pass through your skin. But you can withstand a certain amount. Finally and most important for our point: Gamma Rays-- Gamma Rays, IN THE RIGHT QUANTITY, kill. The other rays are inconveniences, but Gamma Rays will pierce your bones and kill the white blood cells in your marrow. And that will kill you. Gamma Rays are created when Neutrons are ejected from the nucleuses of atoms at near the speed of light. The process requires huge amounts of energy to break the strong nuclear force which holds protons and neutrons together (H-bomb, exploding star, nuclear fission, or highly, highly unstable isotopes). Cobalt 60 is a highly unstable isotope. That is why this news needs to be watched. If someone hijacked that truck because they knew it carried Cobalt 60, there is only one conclusion: they want to poison a lot of people. You cant make a bomb with Cobalt 60. And dont put a lot of stock into a dirty bomb. That would only spread the Cobalt as far as the concussion, a few hundred square feet (which is only a problem if the area was densely populated, like a stadium). The real fear is dropping the Cobalt 60 into vats of food or liquids that will be distributed over a huge area. Or mixed into asphalt or bricks, or clothes, that would be shipped to many cities. That could injure hundreds of thousands. Sadly, there is nothing to be aware of. You cant see Gamma Rays and you cant detect them without a geiger counter. All you can do is watch for clues. Do not fear nuclear power in general, but do fear Gamma radiation. Watch and listen. If you know or discover who did this-- turn them in instantly. Gamma Rays are no joke and not a tool for making some stupid political point. Okay, back to Glee.
Posted on: Thu, 05 Dec 2013 01:26:07 +0000