-=> Quoting Jasen Betts to Tom Walker <=-

 
 TW> Well neither Alpha nor the Beta can penetrate the skin. But when
 TW> inhaled or Injested the Alpha particle is by far the most
 TW> damaging.

 JB> yeah?? I don't seehow that's possible, alpha particles only last for a
 JB> tiny fraction of a second in the air before they turn into helium,
 JB> which is totally harmless.

	The only difference between alpha particles and He^4 is the
presence or absence of electrons, which would have very little to
do with impact behavior of the nucleus.  Alpha particles emitted by
radiation are traveling at high speeds.
 
 TW> despite it's popularity in the "Nuclear Day" presentation og the TV
 TW> and Movie screens they cannot make one "Glow in the Dark". Even it
 TW> you are gamma radiated into cinders. :-)

 JB> yup, it takes a phosphor or Cherenkov radiation to glow in the dark,
 JB> and Cherenkov radiation mainly happens underwater.
 
	Tsk.  And so recently in this echo radium watches were mentioned.

 



--- Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 [NR]