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Radioactivity is a form of energy created when atoms break apart. These emitted rays and particles can be dangerous to living tissues. Yet, driven by curiosity and financial incentives, history has seen the rise of radioactive products, health trends, and even illegal human experimentation.
The energetic particles also pose strange risks after nuclear explosions and, alarmingly, to crematorium workers. Perhaps the most mysterious are the deserted, human-free zones created by contamination, which tell sorrowful yet astonishing stories.
10. The First Radioactive Molecule in Space
In the 17th century, astronomers witnessed the appearance of a nova. It was bright enough to be seen with the naked eye, and its location in the Vulpecula constellation was carefully noted. Fast forward to 2018, and scientists discovered just how unique CK Vul truly was. In ancient times, two stars violently collided and merged in a phenomenon known as a 'red nova.'
As it cooled, enormous amounts of gas and dust were generated. The dust held a remarkable secret—the discovery of the first radioactive molecule in space. It was an isotope of aluminum, named Al. While it was the first instance of this molecule being found in space, it wasn’t the first time Al had been observed.
Researchers had known for years that two solar masses were made of the same material. The real question was where the radioactive isotope had come from within the galaxy. While the collision of the two stars might explain its presence, it couldn’t fully account for the quantity found in the nova's gas.
CK Vul’s gas offered another intriguing finding. The molecular gas, identified as AlF, had mysterious origins. The same study that uncovered the isotope also recognized CK Vul as the first known source of this molecule.
9. Radioactive Reindeer
The Sami, an indigenous group from the Arctic North, have lived alongside reindeer for over 9,000 years. This long-standing tradition came to an abrupt halt around 30 years ago when the Chernobyl disaster occurred.
In Norway, the Sami’s homeland, the fallout from cesium-137 contaminated water, forests, wildlife, and plants. Lichen, a fungus that reindeer commonly consume, absorbed the toxic substance. As the reindeer fed on the lichen, the herds became radioactive.
While Chernobyl is the well-known focal point of the disaster, many communities and species experienced devastating, lesser-known effects. The reindeer, though seemingly unaffected, became so radioactive that the Sami had to release all their animals.
For the Sami, who had lived with reindeer for millennia, this loss was catastrophic. They were deprived of a vital source of food, clothing, income, and tradition. In an instant, their way of life shifted from harmonious coexistence with nature to living in one of the most contaminated regions on Earth. By 2014, tests confirmed that hundreds of reindeer remained radioactive.
8. Hazardous Hair Conditioner
When a nuclear explosion occurs, everything in its path is vaporized, and fine particles fill the air, eventually falling as radioactive fallout. This toxic dust contaminates everything it touches. That's why, after surviving such an event, people are advised to remove all their clothing, shower thoroughly, and wash their hair—but never to use hair conditioner.
This strange recommendation could be the key to avoiding prolonged radiation exposure. Human hair is made up of strands with overlapping scales that open up like pine cones. Conditioner’s ingredients cause these scales to close, giving the hair a smooth texture.
Conditioner not only makes hair more sticky, attracting even more radioactive particles, but it also traps fallout between the open scales, leading to radioactive hair. Shampoo, on the other hand, lacks these scale-closing ingredients and is a safer option for washing contaminants off your head.
7. The Fukushima Wild Boars
In 2011, Japan was struck by a massive earthquake and tsunami. This devastating double disaster led to one of the worst events of the 21st century—the multiple meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
With the human population displaced, some wildlife thrived. Within just five years, the wild boar population exploded from 3,000 to 13,000. They settled into abandoned buildings and began raising families. A large group of pigs needs substantial amounts of food, and their raids on local farmlands caused over US$900,000 in damages.
Prior to the meltdowns, hunters kept the boar population in check. However, after the disaster, few locals were willing to eat the pigs. They had become contaminated with cesium-137. As radioactive pork wasn’t on the menu, hunters stopped hunting them. Even the boars born after the accident were radioactive due to consuming tainted plants and animals.
The culling process is underway, but the boars' size makes it a slow and difficult task. An average male boar weighs around 90 kilograms (200 lbs). Disposing of these large carcasses is challenging, especially when they cannot be processed efficiently. The three designated dumps can only accommodate 600 bodies. A special crematorium can filter out radioactive compounds safely, but the nearest one is located in the city of Soma and can handle only three carcasses per day.
6. Radioactive Cremations
In 2017, a 69-year-old man passed away and was cremated. What no one knew was that three days before his death, he had visited a hospital where he was treated with lutetium Lu 177 dotatate, a radioactive compound for his pancreatic tumor. If the crematorium had known about this, they would never have proceeded with the cremation.
When a body is radioactive, cremation releases these compounds into the air. This poses a risk to crematorium workers who may inhale it, and the contamination can spread to nearby buildings. While not on the scale of Chernobyl, 18.6 million similar procedures occur annually in the United States alone. Some of these procedures may fall through the cracks, leading to radioactive chemicals being released into the environment.
There are no statistics on the frequency of such occurrences. This specific case came to light because the first hospital informed the crematorium. Only after receiving the warning did the crematorium staff investigate, discovering radiation in the chambers and on the equipment.
While this is the first documented contamination of crematory facilities, it is not the first incident of its kind. Scientists also detected a radioactive isotope, technetium Tc 99m, in one of the crematorium workers. It’s likely he was exposed to it during a different contaminated cremation.
5. Radon Health Mines
Every year, people travel to Montana in search of 'natural' remedies. Those suffering from chronic pain enter mines to breathe in radon-laced air. This radioactive gas is a known cause of lung cancer.
Despite the risks, many individuals choose to spend up to 60 hours over 10 days in the abandoned uranium and gold mines, inhaling the irradiated air. Some even consume water laced with radon. While some claim that this exposure alleviates their pain, scientists remain doubtful about radon’s supposed pain-relieving effects and have raised concerns about people intentionally seeking radiation as a form of treatment.
Radon levels are measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L), with 4 pCi/L considered dangerous. The mines, however, emit a disturbing 1,700 pCi/L. It's difficult to understand why anyone would willingly inhale a substance responsible for the deaths of 20,000 Americans each year due to radon accumulation in homes.
4. Anthropocene Marker
Earth’s history is categorized into different geological periods. When the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs struck Earth, it marked the end of the Cretaceous period and the beginning of the Paleogene. For a new era to be officially recognized, there must be a distinct marker in the geological record. The separation between the Cretaceous and Paleogene is identified by an unusual rise in iridium levels, which is thought to have been delivered by the massive asteroid.
For years, scientists debated the existence of a new geological epoch called the Anthropocene. Advocates argued that humans, after whom the epoch is named, had caused a global-scale impact similar to the iridium spike. However, pinpointing the precise starting point of the Anthropocene proved elusive. Eventually, researchers turned to the era when aboveground nuclear tests began. The levels of radioactive carbon-14 peaked in the 1960s due to these tests.
In 2018, researchers selected Campbell Island in New Zealand for further study. Tests revealed that the island’s sole tree, a Sitka spruce, along with two ancient shrubs, exhibited radiocarbon signatures. All three clearly displayed the carbon-14 peak from the 1960s.
This discovery could serve as the marker for the Anthropocene. While most aboveground nuclear tests were conducted in the northern hemisphere, Campbell Island’s southern location makes it a significant global signature. Furthermore, carbon-14 decays slowly, ensuring that even millennia from now, geologists will still be able to detect the 1960s peak.
3. The Chernobyl Bubble
The explosion of reactor No. 4 at Chernobyl in 1986 created one of the most devastating and enduring nuclear disasters in history. The radiation from the Ukrainian catastrophe spread as far as Japan and the United States.
In an effort to contain the radioactive debris, a massive protective structure known as the 'sarcophagus' was constructed around the reactor. Due to concerns about prolonged radiation exposure, the builders hastened the process. The rushed construction left the metal framework without bolted or welded joints, leading to rapid corrosion and roof damage. Decades later, it became clear that the structure would eventually collapse.
In 2016, a French consortium called Novarka completed an even larger protective shell. This new structure was designed to cover both the reactor and the sarcophagus, and it stood taller than the Statue of Liberty.
The new shell reached a height of 108 meters (354 feet) and stretched 257 meters (843 feet) long, weighing more than 39,000 tons. It was the largest man-made structure ever moved on land. To shield workers from the lethal radiation within, the arch was assembled away from the site. Once finished, it was transported 326 meters (1,070 feet) and carefully slid into position.
2. Radium In Energy Drinks
RadiThor arrived in the 1920s, sold in small bottles priced at what would be $15 in today’s currency. Advertised as an energy-boosting drink that also treated impotence, it quickly became a popular sensation.
The drink’s formula was simple—radium dissolved in water. Consumers were aware that it was radioactive and, eventually, that it offered no energy benefits. Nevertheless, RadiThor remained widely consumed. Eben Byers, a wealthy industrialist from Pittsburgh, drank it daily for three years. Convinced it healed his broken arm, he gave enthusiastic endorsements that encouraged others to follow suit.
Ultimately, RadiThor led to Byers' death. Radium caused severe bone decay, and Byers endured a painful demise. In addition to suffering from numerous bone ailments, his skull was riddled with holes and he lost his jaw.
Byers passed away in 1932, the same year RadiThor was taken off the market. He had absorbed a tremendous amount of radiation, with researchers estimating a dose of around 100,000 becquerels. However, when his body was exhumed in 1965, it revealed a shocking 225,000 becquerels.
1. Deadly Science Club
In Massachusetts, the Fernald State School once housed neglected children, many of whom were subjected to abuse by the staff. In 1949, seeking an escape, numerous boys joined the school’s science club. As members, they received tickets to sporting events, opportunities to travel outside the school, gifts... and even radioactive breakfasts.
The rationale behind this was absurd. Quaker Oats, eager to prove that its rival wasn’t superior, decided to conduct a strange experiment. The other cereal, Cream of Wheat, made with farina, claimed several advantages over oatmeal.
Quaker provided the funding and oats, and with scientists of the time eager to perform human experiments, MIT conducted these specific tests. The experiment also received approval from the Atomic Energy Commission.
Approximately 74 boys at Fernald were unknowingly fed radioactive iron and calcium tracers. These tracers revealed an interesting discovery for Quaker: oats reduced the absorption of iron and calcium into the bloodstream, just like farina did. It also confirmed that calcium directly targeted the skeleton, which laid the groundwork for future osteoporosis treatments.
The covert experiments were exposed in 1993 when about 30 former students took legal action against MIT and Quaker Oats. In 1998, they reached a $1.85 million settlement.
