Video Lectures

Lecture 32: Chemical and Biological Effects of Radiation, Smelling Nuclear Bullshit

Description: Radiation damage to organisms is explained, starting from single electron excitations all the way to DNA/cellular damage, cell division effects, organ and organism-level damage, and radiation-induced mutations. Radiolysis of water is linked between damage to cells and damage to reactor materials. The students then embark on debunking internet articles and poorly-conceived, published scientific studies about whether cell phones cause cancer (they don’t!) by identifying incorrect physics, misinterpreted data, conflicting abstracts/conclusions, biased studies, and insufficient sample sizes/statistics. One particular internet blogger is lambasted for his apparently willful manipulation of the truth to push an erroneous message.

Instructor: Michael Short

Note: To report potential content errors, please use this form.

Course Info

Instructor
As Taught In
Fall 2016
Learning Resource Types
Lecture Videos
Problem Sets with Solutions
Exams with Solutions
Instructor Insights
Podcasts