Tag

Radioactive Isotopes

All articles tagged with #radioactive isotopes

space25 days ago•7 min saved

Ancient Neutron-Star Merger Left a Rain of Radioactive Stardust on Earth

A deep-sea ferromanganese crust study found plutonium-244 and curium-247 patterns inconsistent with recent supernovae, pointing to an ancient r-process event—likely a kilonova from a neutron-star merger over 100 million years ago. The absence of curium-247, alongside iron-60 data, suggests the event predates more recent stellar explosions. Dust from this event has since dispersed through the galaxy, and Earth is still sampling remnants as it moves through space. This helps map the Milky Way’s explosive history and Earth’s heavy-element origins, though it’s unclear whether such ancient events affected life on our planet.

via ScienceAlert|

#astronomy #neutron-star-merger #nucleosynthesis

health10 months ago•1 min saved

FDA warns of radioactive shrimp sold at Walmart

Walmart has recalled certain shrimp products across 13 US states after the FDA detected radioactive isotopes, specifically Cesium-137, in a shipment from Indonesia. The contaminated shrimp, sold under the Great Value label, was found not to have entered US commerce, but consumers are advised to discard any recent purchases matching the description and seek refunds. The contamination poses a potential long-term cancer risk due to radiation exposure.

via BBC|

#cesium-137 #fda #health

environment11 months ago•2 min saved

South African Scientists Use Radioactive Horns to Combat Rhino Poaching

Scientists in South Africa have launched the Rhisotope Project, injecting rhino horns with harmless radioactive isotopes that can be detected by customs agents to combat poaching, with initial tests confirming safety and effectiveness.

via PBS|

#conservation #environment #poaching

environment11 months ago•2 min saved

South Africa Uses Radioactive Rhino Horns to Combat Poaching

Scientists in South Africa are injecting rhino horns with harmless radioactive isotopes to make them detectable by customs, aiding in the fight against poaching. The project, called Rhisotope, has successfully tested the method on a small number of rhinos, with the goal of expanding it to protect the declining rhino population, which is heavily targeted by poachers.

via NPR|

#conservation #environment #poaching

science1 year ago•4 min saved

Supernovae's Potential Role in Earth's Past and Future Climate Changes

Research suggests supernovas may have caused significant climate changes on Earth in the past by damaging the ozone layer and affecting greenhouse gases, with potential implications for future events as nearby stars like Betelgeuse go supernova. Evidence from space telescopes and tree rings supports this theory, highlighting the importance of understanding supernova impacts on our planet.

via Space|

#atmosphere #earth-climate #radioactive-isotopes

science3 years ago•5 min saved

Unveiling the Eternal Heat: The Earth's Mysterious Sustained Temperature

The inside of the Earth has remained as hot as the Sun's surface for billions of years due to the planet's layered structure, which includes moving plates. The Earth's internal heat is generated by remnants of its formation and the decay of radioactive isotopes. Geoscientists use seismic waves to study these internal structures and movements, which are crucial for understanding environmental changes and life evolution on Earth. Plate movements driven by the internal heat contribute to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the creation of new land and oceans, making Earth habitable.

via SciTechDaily|

#earths-structure #internal-heat #plate-tectonics