Even though gamma rays are viewed as deadly by many, how can they be used in a positive way to benefit the medical field?

Sarah Kloski & Matthew Jacobs

TO BEGIN, WHAT ARE GAMMA RAYS?

• They have a very short wavelength of less than one-tenth of a nanometer
• Given off by stars and some radioactive substances
• For every meter, the frequency is 3x10^19
• Can pass through the space within the atoms
• Can release more energy in 10 seconds than the sun will emit in its entire 10 billion year lifetime

HOW ARE GAMMA RAYS USED IN THE MEDICAL FIELD?

• Treating internal organs
• Kill cancer cells
• Sterilize medical equipment
• Radioactive tracers, which scan a patient to detect the gamma ray and build up a picture of what's going on inside the patient

WHY THEY ARE VIEWED AS BAD

• Can form mutations in growing tissues, unborn babies are especially vulnerable
• Cell damage
• Can cause a variety of cancers

So after all of that, why would we use gamma rays?

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