Radiation, Japan, and irresponsible reporting: Part III

As detailed in Part I and Part II of this series, the vocabulary of radiation science, (known as “health physics,”) is being chronically misused and confused by the news media in its coverage of the Fukushima nuclear incident in Japan, and critical context is being ignored when details are reported. The result? There is so […]

A Radioactive Astronaut-Hopeful (Space update)

By education and trade, I’m a geologist, having worked now in the professional world for more than six years getting my boots dirty performing hydrogeology, water resources, drilling, geomorphology research, and environmental contaminant transport and remediation work in some of the most remote territory this country has to offer. However, in my push toward becoming […]

Suiting up for radiation

So, I’m heading out this week for radiological instrumentation training. And while I’m studying the latest in handheld “duck-and-cover” devices, I thought I’d take a second to talk about radiation protection. Actually, everyone is used to doing it. The dental chair. The strangely-shaped things in your mouth. The lead apron. -Or how about gooping up before […]

Confronting radiation fears through symbology

Just a quick note today on radiation and the irrational fear it provokes. -Take it from someone who works around “rad” professionally in nature and in industry: Radiation isn’t scary. It’s normal. Radiation comes from the sun above, the mountains around, the soil beneath, our wi-fi routers, radio stations, and heck – our own bodies emit infrared and gamma […]