About this episode
The episode explores the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster 40 years later, including the unique life at the site and the medical applications of radioactive isotopes.
On 26th April 1986, Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine exploded, releasing vast amounts of radiation. Now, 40 years later, it remains the worst nuclear accident in history. Using the Chernobyl anniversary as a starting point, this week the Unexpected Elements team find out about the weird life thriving at the site of the nuclear reactor. Next up, we discover how radioactive isotopes can help doctors diagnose cancer. We then turn our attention to ‘gamma gardens’, which were developed by scientists in the 1950s and 1960s to investigate the impacts of radiation on plants. Professor Helen Anne Curry, from the Georgia Institute of Technology, joins us to reveal more. All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements. Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Andrada Fiscutean and Dr Emmanuel Samani Producers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Margaret Sessa Hawkins and Georgia Christie
People in this episode
Host: Marnie Chesterton
Guest: Professor Helen Anne Curry
Topics covered
- Chernobyl
- nuclear accident
- radiation
- health
- gamma gardens
- isotopes
- environment
Keywords
- Chernobyl
- radiation
- nuclear power
- cancer diagnosis
- gamma gardens
- environmental impact
- isotopes
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Georgia Institute of Technology
Places: Ukraine
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