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Dirty Bomb

Sources of Radiation
by Rick Groleau

 

Dirty Bomb homepage

For most of us, the term "radiation," especially when used in the context of the dirty-bomb threat, implies something sinister, frightening, and possibly deadly. And with good reason—there are radioactive sources, both here on Earth and raining down from space, both natural (like radon) and human-made (like radiological bombs), that can injure or even kill you.

Yet it may come as a surprise that without radiation you wouldn't be here. You wouldn't be able to see, feel the warmth of the sun, or even have food to eat, for virtually all forms of life depend for their very existence on electromagnetic radiation coming from the sun.

Sources of Radiation lets you explore an environment to learn about various types of radiation, both beneficial and potentially lethal. It is not meant to serve as a comprehensive list of radiation sources or as a guide to assess potential dangers. For information about the hazards of radiation and more complete lists of radioactive sources, check out the Web sites listed in Links & Books.


Interactive Sources of Radiation

Sources of Radiation
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Rick Groleau is managing editor of NOVA online.


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