Strange Glow: The Story of RadiationThe fascinating science and history of radiation More than ever before, radiation is a part of our modern daily lives. We own radiation-emitting phones, regularly get diagnostic x-rays, such as mammograms, and submit to full-body security scans at airports. We worry and debate about the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the safety of nuclear power plants. But how much do we really know about radiation? And what are its actual dangers? An accessible blend of narrative history and science, Strange Glow describes mankind's extraordinary, thorny relationship with radiation, including the hard-won lessons of how radiation helps and harms our health. Timothy Jorgensen explores how our knowledge of and experiences with radiation in the last century can lead us to smarter personal decisions about radiation exposures today. Jorgensen introduces key figures in the story of radiation—from Wilhelm Roentgen, the discoverer of x-rays, and pioneering radioactivity researchers Marie and Pierre Curie, to Thomas Edison and the victims of the recent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. Tracing the most important events in the evolution of radiation, Jorgensen explains exactly what radiation is, how it produces certain health consequences, and how we can protect ourselves from harm. He also considers a range of practical scenarios such as the risks of radon in our basements, radiation levels in the fish we eat, questions about cell-phone use, and radiation's link to cancer. Jorgensen empowers us to make informed choices while offering a clearer understanding of broader societal issues. Investigating radiation's benefits and risks, Strange Glow takes a remarkable look at how, for better or worse, radiation has transformed our society. |
Contents
Nuclear Jaguars | 1 |
RADIATION 101 THE BASICS | 5 |
Radiation Revealed | 7 |
Radioactivity Everywhere | 38 |
Atomic Particles and Nuclear Fission | 51 |
THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF RADIATION | 79 |
Radiation and Occupational Illness | 81 |
Radiation Cures Cancer | 116 |
The Target for Radiation Damage | 234 |
WEIGHING THE RISKS AND BENEFITS OF RADIATION | 273 |
Radon in Homes | 275 |
Diagnostic Radiography | 293 |
Cell Phones | 310 |
Radioactivity in Food | 326 |
Nuclear Power Plant Accidents | 346 |
Geopolitical Radiation Threats | 374 |
Radiation Sickness | 141 |
Radioactive Fallout | 164 |
Measuring the Cancer Risk of Radiation | 187 |
Genetic Effects | 206 |
NRays | 397 |
NOTES AND CITATIONS | 411 |
| 453 | |