The Positive Effects of Radioactivity
Radiation conjures up images of terrible explosions and invisible dangers in the air, but in fact radioactivity has benefited humanity in several ways. Radiation is a normal process in which unstable atoms release material from their nuclei. You can detect low levels of radioactivity everywhere on Earth. This is called background radiation. Scientists have discovered ways to concentrate radiation and put it to good use.
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Health Benefits
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Low levels of exposure to seemingly hazardous materials can sometimes be beneficial for living organisms. Studies have shown that radioactivity is no different. This effect is called hormesis, and scientists can't yet explain why it works. One theory is that the immune system is stimulated by harmful substances, and this stimulation results in overall increased health. No one is suggesting that people deliberately expose themselves to radiation, but background radioactivity may not be as dangerous as some people believe.
Medicine
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Radiation therapy targets cancer cells. Radioactivity has multiple uses within the medical community. X-rays are a kind of radiation that allow doctors to visualize the body's internal structures. An X-ray image helps distinguish between a bad sprain and a minor fracture. Cancer treatments often involve controlled doses of radiation. The radiation can be administered internally or externally. Many lives are saved each year with the help of radioactive material. As always, doctors, nurses and patients must exercise care whenever dealing with radioactive material.
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Research Science
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Universities and laboratories employ radioactivity in a variety of ways. In the classroom, aspiring medical professionals get hands-on experience with nuclear medicine techniques. Engineers can use X-rays to peer inside of building supports and foundations, looking for weakness. Archaeologists use the natural radioactivity of carbon atoms to determine approximate ages for their discoveries. Radioactivity is especially useful as a means to trace the path of air or water through a system, which is useful in predicting the effects of pollution in certain environments.
Power Generation
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Nuclear plants uses radioactivity to produce electricity. Despite some high-profile accidents, nuclear energy has largely been a successful supplier of the world's energy needs. The design of a nuclear power plant is deceptively simple. In the reactor chamber, radioactive material is used to generate heat. That heat changes water to steam, which then turns turbines to generate power. Start-up costs for a nuclear plant are enormous, but in the long run they are very economical, producing cheap and abundant power. Safety technology in American nuclear plants is top-notch, because the consequences of an accident are severe.
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References
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