Tom Clynes's book, The Boy Who Played With Fusion, about Taylor Wilson is an incredible read. After reading it, I couldn't help but wonder about the radioactivity of the items that we have all around us. This project is an attempt to explore and visualize them.
Photographs
Geiger CounterRadiation Testing DeviceCigarettesIsotope: Polonium-210 & Lead-210 Radiation: Alpha Absorbed from the ground by tobacco."Atomsite" (Trinitite)Isotope: Caesium-137, Americium-241, Barium-133, Cobalt-60 Radiation: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Created during nuclear testing at Los Alamos during WWII. The heat from the blast essentially melted the sandy desert floor into this glass like substance.Camera LensIsotope: Thorium Radiation: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Thoriated glass was used in the manufacture of camera lenses pre-1960.CigarettesIsotope: Polonium-210 & Lead-210 Radiation: Alpha Absorbed from the ground by tobacco.Uranium GlassIsotope: Uranium-238 Radiation: Alpha This type of glassware was popular in the 1960s."Yellowcake" (Ammonium Diuranate)Isotope: Uranium-238 Radiation: Alpha Precursor for the Uranium enrichment process."Atomsite" (Trinitite)Isotope: Caesium-137, Americium-241, Barium-133, Cobalt-60 Radiation: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Created during nuclear testing at Los Alamos during WWII. The heat from the blast essentially melted the sandy desert floor into this glass like substance.Exit Signs & Firearm Night-SightsIsotope: Hydrogen-3 or "Tritium" Radiation: Beta This material is extremely rare on earth and is found primarily in space.Lantern MantlesIsotope: Thorium Radiation: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Still used in the production of lantern mantles today.Tube TVsRadiation: X-Rays (Gamma)Glow SticksRadiation: None It is a common misconception that glow sticks contain radioactive material. The glow produced is entirely a chemical reaction, hence the need to "snap" them.Glow SticksRadiation: None It is a common misconception that glow sticks contain radioactive material. The glow produced is entirely a chemical reaction, hence the need to "snap" them.X-10 Graphite Reactor (Circa 2015)Oak Ridge, TN One of the primary reactors used during the Manhattan Project to produce enriched Plutonium for WWII era atomic weapons.
