Flame — HabitableZone

Flame » in reply to re: Interesting

On the topic of measuring human induced radiation.
ER — (archived)

I am not commenting on your post, just making an observation and I feel this is an appropriate spot to place it.

For years now, technology has given us instruments capable of detecting and accurately measuring incredibly minute levels of radiation. When these devices are manufactured, they must first be placed in a radiation-free environment so that the "zero point" can be properly calibrated. Keep in mind, there is nowhere that some natural radiation does not occur, so this procedure is only used to identify the background resulting from naturally ocurring residual radio-isotopes from the formation of the solar system and highly penetrating cosmic rays in the environment.

When I worked in the industry back in the early 70s, these isolation chambers were constructed from the thick armor plate of decommissioned battleships constructed prior to 1945. The outer layers were machined off and the steel used to build radiation-free rooms where the equipment would be shielded and could be calibrated.

These extreme precautions were necessary because all materials constructed after 1945 were found to be contaminated by tiny, but measurable, levels of radiation from nuclear weapons testing.

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