For many years, fossil fuels have been the world's primary energy source, due to our thorough understanding of the material, and its dependability. But, in today’s world, the vastly alarming impacts of fossil fuels, along with their poor sustainability, has caused the world to look for other forms of energy. Gamma rays, in particular, offer the most energy of any wave in the electromagnetic spectrum. According to a NASA study, “gamma waves are generated by nuclear explosions, lightning, and the less dramatic activity of radioactive decay.”
Though not rare, gamma rays are difficult to harness. They are considered some of the most hazardous substances, and cause “beta burns,” which damage a person’s cells. Unlike other types of rays, capturing/recording gamma waves are nearly impossible due to their miniscule wavelength. Therefore, they require a different method of detection. With a process called Compton scattering, Gamma rays are detected through their collisions with specially packed crystal blocks.
Because of their tiny wavelengths and “invisible” properties, gamma rays are not visible to the naked eye. As stated by NASA, these Gamma-ray bursts “can release more energy in 10 seconds than our Sun will emit in its entire 10-billion-year expected lifetime!” With such a powerful source of energy, the possibilities are endless.
Having been accidentally discovered by the U.S. military satellites almost six decades ago, gamma rays have the potential to change energy as we know it.They would be like light shows in the night sky, providing free fireworks becoming even more powerful. If they were close enough to be seen by human eyes, they would have to be extremely close to the Earth, which as mentioned earlier, may not be the best scenario.
The nearest gamma-ray burst ever recorded was 2.4 billion light years away, and although it might not seem close in to human sensibilities, a burst closer than that could be catastrophic. If a Gamma-ray burst was within a couple of thousand light-years away, Earth would experience a mass extinction. Some scientists believe that the Ordovician extinction event may have resulted because of a burst that closes.
But, Gamma rays aren't all that bad. Because of their frequent appearance in the High Energy Radiation Megavolt Electron Source (HERMES), Gamma rays are often used to test weapons components and electronics’ radiation tolerance. With these devices, HERMES makes sure nuclear stockpiles are “safe, secure, and effective without nuclear explosive testing,” as stated by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
Along with keeping nuclear stockpiles safe, Gamma rays also aid other fields. When used moderately, gamma rays are used in “award-winning cancer screening devices and in surgical procedures” to guide the removal of tumors. In law enforcement agencies, they can find the owner of several important items, like dinosaur bones and even software!
In the future, as Gamma ray research progresses, there will be several more chances for groundbreaking technology and potential breakthroughs. However, several safety concerns concerning gamma radiation need to be addressed prior to . After all, safety is a priority, because having new technology is not useful if there isn’t anyone to take advantage of it.
Sources
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"Gamma Rays." NASA.gov, NASA, 10 Aug. 2016, science.nasa.gov/ems/12_gammarays. Accessed 8 Feb. 2023.
National Nuclear Security Administration. "Gamma Rays: small but mighty." Energy.gov, National Government, 15 Apr. 2017, www.energy.gov/nnsa/articles/gamma-rays-small-mighty. Accessed 8 Feb. 2023.
"The Pros and Cons of Fossil Fuels." Kiwienergy, 30 Oct. 2019, kiwienergy.us/the-pros-and-cons-of-fossil-fuels/. Accessed 8 Feb. 2023.
Pultarova, Tereza. "Astronomers just spotted the most powerful flash of light ever seen." Space.com, 24 Oct. 2022, www.space.com/most-powerful-gamma-ray-burst-ever-seen. Accessed 8 Feb. 2023.
Ritchie, Hannah, et al. "Energy." OurWorldInData, 2022, ourworldindata.org/energy-mix. Accessed 8 Feb. 2023.