Radiation

Lunar lander floating above the moon, with the Earth in the background

Let's Talk Space Exploration Resources

Discover a set of resources to develop background knowledge on the topic of space exploration.

Marty Larabie scuba diving

Marty Larabie (he/him)

Radiation Inspector

I perform radiation safety inspections of persons who use nuclear material.
Portrait de Corie Houldsworth

Corie Houldsworth

Inspector

I perform inspections of worksites where radiation is used, stored or transported.
Julie Leblanc

Julie Leblanc (she/her)

Women in STEM Special Advisor

My work is to support girls and women to pursue and education and careers in STEM.
Beamline Assembly at TRIUMF

Exploring Canada’s Particle Accelerators

Particle accelerators have amazing applications - from growing food to making airplanes safe.

Student working with electrical circuit

Physics Videos

Measuring radiation in Chernobyl

Radiation Effects on the Body

This backgrounder explains the potential effects of radiation on the human body.

Screen captures from embedded Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell videos

What are the Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy?

These two “point-counterpoint” videos provide arguments for and against using nuclear energy to generate electricity.

Artist’s interpretation of astronaut in space

What are the Different Types of Radiation?

Learn about the different types of radiation, how they interact with atoms and how they can affect you.

Radiation shielding garment on the International Space Station

Radiation and Human Space Exploration

One of the greatest hazards that humans in space face is cosmic radiation. Learn what cosmic radiation is, why it's dangerous, and ways that we are looking at protecting humans in deep space.

Gamma ray image of the Milky Way taken by NASA’s Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope (NASA)

Gamma Rays: Helper or Hazard?

Gamma rays might make you think of cancer, harmful radiation or superheroes. But gamma rays have lots of uses: food safety, manufacturing and even medicine!

Hand with screwdriver “repairing” DNA

DNA Damage and Repair

This backgrounder explains the different ways that cells repair damage to DNA.

Cartoon aircraft in flight

Cosmic Radiation and Aviation

Learn how people came to understand the source of cosmic radiation, as well as how this radiation impacts those who work in and travel on airplanes.

Gentilly-2 nuclear reactor

Cleaning Up Nuclear Waste After Decommissioning

When a nuclear reactor is no longer in use, the radioactivity in its materials remains. That’s why it’s important to safely deal with the radioactive waste those plants leave behind.

Damage to DNA

Radiation Effects on Cells & DNA

This backgrounder explains the effects of radiation on cells and DNA.