Radioactivity — the property of atomic kernels consisting in their spontaneous transformation in the course of which easier kernels and elementary alpha, beta and gamma particles are let out. From more than 3000 types of kernels known to science are only 264 not radioactive as they are too lungs — disintegration in them is energetically not favorable, therefore, is impossible. Despite high danger which is constituted by this phenomenon for a living organism the scientists learned to use radiation (the radiation arising in the course of radioactivity) for the good.
Impact on an organism
Even small doses of radiation are capable to put in action a chain of the reactions leading to oncological diseases and genetic uglinesses — to mutations of genes, change of structure and number of chromosomes. It is connected with education of free radicals and release of hydrogen that is followed by a rupture of hydrogen communications in proteins and nucleinic acids. High doses of particles promptly destroy cages and fabrics of bodies that leads to fast death of a living organism.
Diagnostics
X-ray radiation is the most widespread way of use of the phenomenon of radioactivity for advantage of the person. The radiation opened by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895 arises at transmission between the cathode and the anode of current under very high voltage in a vacuum tube. As a result electrons receive the strongest acceleration. Roentgen creates effect of a luminescence at some substances that is used in medical diagnostics. Except X-ray for diagnostics apply positron and issue, one-photon and magnetic resonance installations.
Nuclear medicine
At treatment of malignant tumors the proton therapeutic linear particle accelerator sending a bunch of the accelerated particles to the struck fabric is used, causing the directed destruction of pathological cages as they are most susceptible to influence because of the high activity. Such treatment is carried out without causing big harm to surrounding fabrics.
Sterilization
Intensive radiation is used for sterilization of products, seeds, medicines and the equipment when high temperatures are not allowed. Such microorganisms as a salmonella or a trikhinella are in such a way destroyed. The safety of products at the dosed radiation is much higher, than at other ways of disinfecting.
Radio-carbon dating
In archeology successfully use radioactivity for determination of age of the found objects which from 1 thousand to 50 thousand years. The error at the same time makes no more than 50 years.
Lightning rod
In areas where often there are thunderstorms, lightning rods at which top the source of gamma quanta is fixed are installed. Most often in its role radioactive cobalt acts. Thanks to it air is ionized around, tension of the field decreases, and, as a result, the risk of emergence of a lightning in range comes down to zero.