And we can only have a certain number of X-Rays each year. The doctor who injected dye into my shoulder last year looked like this during the procedure in preparation for my contrast MRI.
But what do gamma rays do? They turn you into a super hero!
Popular culture aside, let's take a look at the electromagnetic spectrum where both X-Rays and Gamma Rays reside. Look closely at the right side.
Notice the overlap in the diagram. The distinction between X-Rays and Gamma Rays doesn't seem to be very clear. Even the "soft" vs. "hard" X-Ray difference isn't very distinct. If they're both on the same spectrum and they overlap, what's the real difference?
As we learned in last week's Freaky Fzx Friday on NUCLEOactivity, X-Rays are produced by us as we smash electrons into dense targets.
Whereas X-Rays are man-made and their strength depends on the electron energy and the target material, Gamma Rays are one form of NUCLEOactivity. A nucleus moves toward stability by ejecting high energy electromagetic waves. Their strength depends on the unstable nucleus - the isotope.
So X-Rays and Gamma Rays are both electromagnetic waves and are often similar in energy but they're different because of their SOURCEs. And just to be clear, high doses of gamma rays won't make you a superhero. They'll do the same thing that high doses of X-Rays do. You'll just suffer and die.
If you're concerned, just stay away from potential sources and always wear the appropriate apron. You can disguise it like this
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