Radiation-Detection Systems Are Quietly Running in the Background All Around You

"The giant confinement building encapsulating the Chernobyl nuclear reactor that exploded nearly 40 years ago is smooth and curved-built with scientific precision. Installed in 2016, the structure was designed to prevent the escape of radiation from the stricken reactor, which is also encased in a smaller concrete sarcophagus. The confinement enshrouds both reactor and sarcophagus and is so massive that if you placed the Statue of Liberty inside it at its center, her torch wouldn't come close to prodding the ceiling."

"In February, a drone armed with explosives smashed into the confinement, leaving a 15 m2 hole. While some of the damage has been repaired, the building's radiation-blocking abilities have been compromised, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed earlier this month. Importantly, the IAEA also said that radiation levels in the area have not yet changed. But unless more significant repairs are carried out, the specter of a potential leak remains."

"Radiation occurs naturally everywhere. It is produced by food you eat, and even by tissues in your own body. Think of it like a grand carnival of subatomic particles-including neutrons, electrons, and photons-that whizz around, always in motion, always present. An invisible world that shadows the world we can see. But the carnival is always changing and, today, we are better positioned than ever to notice fluctuations in radiation that deviate from normal, background levels."

A massive 2016 confinement structure covers the destroyed Chernobyl reactor and its concrete sarcophagus. A February drone attack created a 15 m2 hole, compromising radiation-blocking capabilities, and the International Atomic Energy Agency reported unchanged radiation levels but warned of potential leaks without substantial repairs. Radiation exists naturally from food and tissues and background levels constantly fluctuate. Modern global networks of government stations and grassroots DIY monitors now measure radiation widely, enabling near-immediate detection of significant deviations. Historical nuclear incidents spread radioactive material widely and were detected by monitoring systems, demonstrating the value of widespread detection infrastructure.

Read at WIRED