Mad Scientist

["Reynolds, Harold" <harold.reynolds@rfets.gov>]

> I did a search on the word "radioactivity" and come up with 34 hits.  Some
> were on target, but some were very scary in the misinformation they were
> spreading!  Not necessarily scary in the "scare tactics" sense, but scary
> in showing how well-intentioned people with a little bit of knowledge can
> propagate misinformation and misconceptions.  One post discourages student
> from doing a science project on radiation by saying most of the early
> radiation scientists died of cancer.  Another says that alpha particles
> are dangerous because of their low energy and gamma rays are not because
> of their high energy.  My take from this short visit is that the
> responders are well-meaning-they just lack the understanding of what they
> may have studied superficially somewhere.  The one on radon (heavy gasses)
> is particularly interesting.  Dr. Cohen??
> 
> Harry
> Harold.Reynolds@RFETS.gov
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