From the Ted Talk by Matt Anticole: Is radiation dangerous?
Unscramble the Blue Letters
When we hear the word raiditaon, it's tempting to picture huge explosions and frightening mutations, but that's not the full story. Radiation also applies to rainbows and a doctor einainxmg an x-ray. So what is radiation really, and how much should we worry about its effects? The answer begins with understanding that the word radiation describes two very different sicnfieitc phenomena: electromagnetic radiation and nuclear radiation. Electromagnetic radiation is pure energy cinitonssg of interacting electrical and magnetic waves oscillating through space. As these wevas oscillate faster, they scale up in energy. At the lower end of the spectrum, there's radio, infrared, and visible light. At the higher end are ultraviolet, X-ray, and gmmaa rays. Modern society is shaped by sending and detecting electromagnetic radiation. We might download an email to our phone via radio waves to open an image of an X-ray print, which we can see because our screen eimts vibslie light. Nuclear radiation, on the other hand, originates in the atomic nucleus, where protons repel each other due to their mutually positive charges. A pmoheeonnn known as the strong ncauelr force sgtuelrgs to overcome this repulsion and keep the nucleus intact. However, some combinations of protons and neutrons, known as itsopeos, remain unstable, or rcvaoiditae. They will randomly eject metatr and/or energy, known as nuclear radiation, to achieve greater stability. Nuclear radiation comes from nutaral sources, like radon, a gas which spees up from the ground. We also refine naturally occurring radioactive ores to fuel nuclear power plants. Even bananas contain trace amounts of a radioactive potassium isotope. So if we live in a world of radiation, how can we escape its dangerous effects? To start, not all radiation is hazardous. Radiation becomes rsiky when it rips atoms' electrons away upon impact, a process that can damage DNA. This is known as inniziog radiation because an atom that has lost or gained electrons is called an ion. All nuclear radiation is ionizing, while only the highest energy electromagnetic radiation is. That includes gamma rays, X-rays, and the high-energy end of utlielvroat. That's why as an extra pireotuacn during X-rays, doctors shield body ptars they don't need to enmaixe, and why beach-goers use sunscreen. In comparison, cell phones and microwaves optreae at the lower end of the spectrum, so there is no risk of ionizing radiation from their use. The biggest health risk occurs when lots of ionizing radiation hits us in a short time pioerd, also known as an acute exposure. atuce exposures overwhelm the body's natural atlibiy to repair the damage. This can teigrgr cancers, cellular dysfunction, and potentially even death. Fortunately, acute exposures are rare, but we are eseopxd daily to lower levels of ionizing radiation from both natural and man-made sources. Scientists have a harder time quantifying these risks. Your body often rpeiras damage from slmal amounts ionizing radiation, and if it can't, the results of damage may not mniseaft for a decade or more. One way sctietniss compare ionizing radiation exposure is a unit called the sievert. An acute exposure to one sievert will probably cause nausea within hours, and four sieverts could be fatal. However, our normal dilay exposures are far lower. The average person receives 6.2 millisieverts of radiation from all sources annually, around a third due to radon. At only five microsieverts each, you'd need to get more than 1200 dental X-rays to rack up your annual dosage. And remember that banana? If you could abosrb all the banana's radiation, you'd need around 170 a day to hit your annual dosage. We live in a world of radiation. However, much of that radiation is non-ionizing. For the remainder that is ionizing, our exposures are usually low, and choices like getting your home tested for raodn and wearing sunscreen can help reduce the associated heltah rsiks. Marie Curie, one of the early radiation pioneers, summed up the challenge as follows: "Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."
Open Cloze
When we hear the word _________, it's tempting to picture huge explosions and frightening mutations, but that's not the full story. Radiation also applies to rainbows and a doctor _________ an x-ray. So what is radiation really, and how much should we worry about its effects? The answer begins with understanding that the word radiation describes two very different __________ phenomena: electromagnetic radiation and nuclear radiation. Electromagnetic radiation is pure energy __________ of interacting electrical and magnetic waves oscillating through space. As these _____ oscillate faster, they scale up in energy. At the lower end of the spectrum, there's radio, infrared, and visible light. At the higher end are ultraviolet, X-ray, and _____ rays. Modern society is shaped by sending and detecting electromagnetic radiation. We might download an email to our phone via radio waves to open an image of an X-ray print, which we can see because our screen ____________ light. Nuclear radiation, on the other hand, originates in the atomic nucleus, where protons repel each other due to their mutually positive charges. A __________ known as the strong _______ force _________ to overcome this repulsion and keep the nucleus intact. However, some combinations of protons and neutrons, known as ________, remain unstable, or ___________. They will randomly eject ______ and/or energy, known as nuclear radiation, to achieve greater stability. Nuclear radiation comes from _______ sources, like radon, a gas which _____ up from the ground. We also refine naturally occurring radioactive ores to fuel nuclear power plants. Even bananas contain trace amounts of a radioactive potassium isotope. So if we live in a world of radiation, how can we escape its dangerous effects? To start, not all radiation is hazardous. Radiation becomes _____ when it rips atoms' electrons away upon impact, a process that can damage DNA. This is known as ________ radiation because an atom that has lost or gained electrons is called an ion. All nuclear radiation is ionizing, while only the highest energy electromagnetic radiation is. That includes gamma rays, X-rays, and the high-energy end of ___________. That's why as an extra __________ during X-rays, doctors shield body _____ they don't need to _______, and why beach-goers use sunscreen. In comparison, cell phones and microwaves _______ at the lower end of the spectrum, so there is no risk of ionizing radiation from their use. The biggest health risk occurs when lots of ionizing radiation hits us in a short time ______, also known as an acute exposure. _____ exposures overwhelm the body's natural _______ to repair the damage. This can _______ cancers, cellular dysfunction, and potentially even death. Fortunately, acute exposures are rare, but we are _______ daily to lower levels of ionizing radiation from both natural and man-made sources. Scientists have a harder time quantifying these risks. Your body often _______ damage from _____ amounts ionizing radiation, and if it can't, the results of damage may not ________ for a decade or more. One way __________ compare ionizing radiation exposure is a unit called the sievert. An acute exposure to one sievert will probably cause nausea within hours, and four sieverts could be fatal. However, our normal _____ exposures are far lower. The average person receives 6.2 millisieverts of radiation from all sources annually, around a third due to radon. At only five microsieverts each, you'd need to get more than 1200 dental X-rays to rack up your annual dosage. And remember that banana? If you could ______ all the banana's radiation, you'd need around 170 a day to hit your annual dosage. We live in a world of radiation. However, much of that radiation is non-ionizing. For the remainder that is ionizing, our exposures are usually low, and choices like getting your home tested for _____ and wearing sunscreen can help reduce the associated ___________. Marie Curie, one of the early radiation pioneers, summed up the challenge as follows: "Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."
Solution
risky
consisting
phenomenon
risks
ultraviolet
seeps
ability
scientific
scientists
daily
health
ionizing
acute
isotopes
examining
radiation
visible
matter
period
radioactive
examine
precaution
natural
manifest
emits
struggles
absorb
operate
radon
parts
exposed
repairs
waves
small
gamma
nuclear
trigger
Original Text
When we hear the word radiation, it's tempting to picture huge explosions and frightening mutations, but that's not the full story. Radiation also applies to rainbows and a doctor examining an x-ray. So what is radiation really, and how much should we worry about its effects? The answer begins with understanding that the word radiation describes two very different scientific phenomena: electromagnetic radiation and nuclear radiation. Electromagnetic radiation is pure energy consisting of interacting electrical and magnetic waves oscillating through space. As these waves oscillate faster, they scale up in energy. At the lower end of the spectrum, there's radio, infrared, and visible light. At the higher end are ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma rays. Modern society is shaped by sending and detecting electromagnetic radiation. We might download an email to our phone via radio waves to open an image of an X-ray print, which we can see because our screen emits visible light. Nuclear radiation, on the other hand, originates in the atomic nucleus, where protons repel each other due to their mutually positive charges. A phenomenon known as the strong nuclear force struggles to overcome this repulsion and keep the nucleus intact. However, some combinations of protons and neutrons, known as isotopes, remain unstable, or radioactive. They will randomly eject matter and/or energy, known as nuclear radiation, to achieve greater stability. Nuclear radiation comes from natural sources, like radon, a gas which seeps up from the ground. We also refine naturally occurring radioactive ores to fuel nuclear power plants. Even bananas contain trace amounts of a radioactive potassium isotope. So if we live in a world of radiation, how can we escape its dangerous effects? To start, not all radiation is hazardous. Radiation becomes risky when it rips atoms' electrons away upon impact, a process that can damage DNA. This is known as ionizing radiation because an atom that has lost or gained electrons is called an ion. All nuclear radiation is ionizing, while only the highest energy electromagnetic radiation is. That includes gamma rays, X-rays, and the high-energy end of ultraviolet. That's why as an extra precaution during X-rays, doctors shield body parts they don't need to examine, and why beach-goers use sunscreen. In comparison, cell phones and microwaves operate at the lower end of the spectrum, so there is no risk of ionizing radiation from their use. The biggest health risk occurs when lots of ionizing radiation hits us in a short time period, also known as an acute exposure. Acute exposures overwhelm the body's natural ability to repair the damage. This can trigger cancers, cellular dysfunction, and potentially even death. Fortunately, acute exposures are rare, but we are exposed daily to lower levels of ionizing radiation from both natural and man-made sources. Scientists have a harder time quantifying these risks. Your body often repairs damage from small amounts ionizing radiation, and if it can't, the results of damage may not manifest for a decade or more. One way scientists compare ionizing radiation exposure is a unit called the sievert. An acute exposure to one sievert will probably cause nausea within hours, and four sieverts could be fatal. However, our normal daily exposures are far lower. The average person receives 6.2 millisieverts of radiation from all sources annually, around a third due to radon. At only five microsieverts each, you'd need to get more than 1200 dental X-rays to rack up your annual dosage. And remember that banana? If you could absorb all the banana's radiation, you'd need around 170 a day to hit your annual dosage. We live in a world of radiation. However, much of that radiation is non-ionizing. For the remainder that is ionizing, our exposures are usually low, and choices like getting your home tested for radon and wearing sunscreen can help reduce the associated health risks. Marie Curie, one of the early radiation pioneers, summed up the challenge as follows: "Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."