All About Mars Nov 13, 2009
The source of heat in the Martian mantle is likely to be the same as Earth's; radioactive decay, the breakup of uranium, potassium and thorium. The Martian core is most likely composed of iron, nickel and sulfur. (Suite101.com)
Does this make your head hurt? Oct 17, 2009
They occur in radioactive decay and are used routinely in medical PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scanners. Beyond those, it gets hard. (BBC News -- UK)
CERN physicist accused of terror links. What access did he have? Oct 14, 2009
The four basic forces are electromagnetism, the weak force (governing radioactive decay), the strong force (binding particles in an atom's nucleus), and gravity. Scientists hope to create the particles directly by smashing protons together at sufficiently high energies. (Christian Science Monitor -- USA)
Schrödinger's virus Oct 4, 2009
The point of the experiment is that radioactive decay is a quantum process. The chance of the atom decaying in any given period is known. (The Economist)
President Obama Honors IBM's Blue Gene Supercomputer With National Medal of Technology and Innovation Sep 19, 2009
Blue Gene systems have helped map the human genome, investigated medical therapies, safeguarded nuclear arsenals, simulated radioactive decay, replicated brain power, flown airplanes, pinpointed tumors, predicted climate trends, and identified fossil fuels -- all without the time and money that would have been required to physically complete these tasks. The system also reflects breakthroughs in energy efficiency. (PR Newswire)
UH ocean project involves nuclear subatomic particles Aug 25, 2009
The University of Hawaii physics department is taking the lead in development of a deep-ocean detector to study ghostly subatomic particles coming from nuclear reactors and radioactive decay in the earth ... The University of Hawaii physics department is taking the lead in development of a deep-ocean detector to study ghostly subatomic particles coming from nuclear reactors and radioactive decay in the earth. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
Variability in type Ia supernova Aug 21, 2009
Nickel-56 is especially important, because the radioactive decay of this unstable isotope creates the afterglow that astronomers are able to observe for months or years after the explosion. "The decay of nickel-56 is what powers the light curve," says Kasen. (Astronomy Now Online)
Variability Of Type 1a Supernovae Has Implications For Dark Energy Studies Aug 20, 2009
Nickel-56 is especially important, because the radioactive decay of this unstable isotope creates the afterglow that astronomers are able to observe for months or even years after the explosion. "The decay of nickel-56 is what powers the light curve. The explosion is over in a matter of seconds, so what we see is the result of how the nickel heats the debris and how the debris radiates light," Kasen said. (Science Daily)
Safe, clean and abundant Aug 16, 2009
Nuclear waste disappears spontaneously through radioactive decay while coal ash doesnt. There is no other waste product in this world which is totally confined like nuclear waste. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Strong Effect Of The Weak Interaction: Exploring The Standard Model Of Physics Without The High-energy Collider Aug 13, 2009
It is the force that allows the radioactive decay of a neutron into a proton - the basis of carbon dating to occur. However, because it acts over such a short range about a tenth of a percent the diameter of the proton it is almost impossible to study its effect without large, high-energy particle accelerators. (Science Daily)
No Dark Matter Origin For Mystery Radiation Aug 2, 2009
The astronomers show that the positrons formed by radioactive decay of elements left behind after explosions of massive stars are, in fact, able to travel great distances, with many leaving the thin Galactic disc. Taking this into account, dark matter is no longer required to explain what Integral saw. (Science Daily)
Nanotubes Weigh A Single Atom Jul 24, 2009
It may then become possible to observe the radioactive decay of a single nucleus and to study other types of quantum mechanical phenomena. But the real excitement would be in tracking chemical and biological reactions involving individual atoms and molecules reacting right there on the vibrating nanotube. (Science Daily)
Gamma ray "mystery" not related to dark matter Jul 17, 2009
New interpretation of the gamma ray data suggests that their distribution can instead be explained by the way antimatter positrons from the radioactive decay of elements, created by massive stellar explosions, propagate through the galaxy. "The observed distribution of gamma rays is consistent with the standard picture where the source of positrons is the radioactive decay of isotopes of nickel, titanium and aluminum produced in supernova explosions of stars more massive than the Sun," says... (Astronomy Now Online)
Patterns in Milky Way perplex astronomers Jul 14, 2009
But one team of astrophysicists has shown that this explanation is unlikely, and that instead the pattern of gamma rays can be explained by the way so-called "anti-matter positrons" from the radioactive decay of elements propagate through the galaxy ... "The observed distribution of gamma rays is in fact quite consistent with the standard picture.Positron annihilationPositrons are subatomic particles that are the of everyday electrons, and our galaxy and others are filled with them.When... (MSNBC -- Technology)
Lawmaker's take on Earth's age a comedic hit Jul 11, 2009
"But don't pretend it's a fact. And especially don't make yourself look like the stupidest person on the planet by stating it as fact during a hearing about digging up uranium. The way we know the Earth is actually billions of years old is because of the speed at which we can measure the radioactive decay of uranium. Of uranium. Carbon dating.". Allen shrugged off the unflattering attention. (AZCentral -- News)
Antimatter Positrons In Milky Way Galaxy Jul 9, 2009
In two separate scientific papers, the most recent of which appears in the July 10 issue of the journal Physical Review Letters, the astrophysicists show that this distribution of gamma rays can be explained by the way antimatter positrons from the radioactive decay of elements, created by massive star explosions in the galaxy, propagate through the galaxy ... The observed distribution of gamma rays is consistent with the standard picture where the source of positrons is the radioactive decay of... (Science Daily)
Q&A: Nuclear fusion reactor Jun 17, 2009
It has been calculated that after 100 years of post-operation radioactive decay, Iter will be left with about 6,000 tonnes of waste. When packaged, this would be equivalent to a cube with about 10m edges. (BBC News -- Science)
Periodic Discussions Jun 16, 2009
And instead of looking only for an atom of the new element, they trace the "" of radioactive decay. When element 112 decayed, it turned into element 110 (darmstadtium), which in turn decayed to element 108 (hassium), and so on. (Slate)
Particles Larger Than Galaxies Fill the Universe? Jun 3, 2009
Neutrinos as we know them today are created by nuclear reactions or radioactive decay. SHARE RELATED. (National Geographic)
Uranium subcommittee releases proposed final study draft May 8, 2009
7) Assess the potential short- and long-term occupational and public health and safety considerations from uranium mining, milling, processing, and reclamation, including the potential human health effects from exposure to "daughter" products of radioactive decay of uranium. 8) Identify the issues that may need to be considered regarding the quality and quantity of groundwater and surface water, and the quality of soil and air from uranium mining, milling, processing, and reclamation. (Chatham Star Tribune, VA)
North Korea: 5 Things You Didnt... May 7, 2009
Thus as diplomatic relations fall back into radioactive decay, we present 5 things you didn't know about North Korea. 1- North Korea is one of the world s largest fresh fruit producers. (New York Post -- Entertainment)
Atomic physics study sets new limits on hypothetical new particles May 1, 2009
Two other forces operate only on an atomic level: These are the strong force, which binds particles in the nucleus, and the weak force, which reveals itself when atoms break down in radioactive decay, or as in the Boulder experiment, through the parity violation. The possibility of a fifth force could dispute the long-held belief that the force of gravity is the same for all substances. (EurekAlert!)
Utility prepares for geothermal exploration well Apr 28, 2009
Geothermal energy originates from radioactive decay of minerals and from solar energy absorbed at the surface. Steam and hot water produced inside the earth have been used for space heating and bathing since ancient times, although geothermal power is now best known for producing electricity. (Juneau Empire)
Waste not: promise of clean nuclear power Apr 10, 2009
The waste, however, continues to undergo radioactive decay, remaining highly dangerous. Yet by using a separate source of neutrons - taken from the fusion reaction - the fuel can be burned up almost completely. (The Age, Australia -- World)
Texas debates the teaching of evolution Mar 26, 2009
Newton said the board is considering other amendments casting doubt on well-established ideas in the earth and space sciences -- plate tectonics, radioactive decay and how the solar system developed. School board chairman Don McLeroy has wanted to tackle questions that highlight supposed weaknesses in the theory. (CNN)
The 188 Hazardous Air Pollutants identified by the EPA Mar 16, 2009
5 A type of atom which spontaneously undergoes radioactive decay. Houston Community Newspapers Online 2009. (Lake Houston Sun, TX)
Study finds "Peking Man" lived in an older, cooler age Mar 13, 2009
Guanjun Shen from the Nanjing Normal University in eastern Jiangsu Province and his colleagues used an upgraded method based on the radioactive decay of aluminum (Al) and beryllium (Be) isotopes in quartz grains to carry out the dating process. The new results showed that the tool-making "erect man" could be dated back as early as 770,000 years ago. (Xinhuanet, China)
'Peking Man' goes way, way back Mar 12, 2009
The authors of the new study sought to re-date the fossils using a relatively new method that looks at the radioactive decay of aluminum and beryllium in quartz exposed to cosmic radiation. With this method, they pinned the date closer to 780,000 years ago. (MSNBC -- Technology)
'Peking Man' older than thought Mar 12, 2009
This method is based on the radioactive decay of unstable forms, or isotopes, of the elements aluminium and beryllium in quartz grains. This enabled them to get a more precise age for the fossils. (BBC News -- Science)
Good Riddance, Yucca Mountain Mar 4, 2009
Imagining the initial quantity of radioactivity emplaced in the repository as 1,500 marbles, natural radioactive decay would leave 270 marbles after 1,000 years and only 90 marbles after 10,000 years. By 100,000 years, there would be only eight marbles left. (Slate)
March-April 2009 GSA Bulletin media highlights Feb 11, 2009
Zircon crystals contain minuscule amounts of uranium, which converts over time to lead by radioactive decay at a known rate. The uranium/lead ratio in zircon sand grains can accordingly be used to establish the time that each zircon sand grain first formed as part of a zircon crystal in parent granite bedrock. (EurekAlert!)
Q&A: The LHC experiment Feb 10, 2009
The quest to understand the smallest building blocks of nature and the forces that hold them together arguably began with the ancient Greeks, but it was only when we began to conduct experiments that we discovered the electron (1897), quantum mechanics (triggered by precision observations of the light emitted by elements when heated), X-rays, the atomic nucleus, radioactive decay. the list is practically endless. (BBC News -- Science)
