Historical/scientific "facts" that you've discovered aren't true..

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: Mojoed
The fact that elephants aren't really afraid of mice.

Actually mythbusters did an experiment and they clearly were.

 

[Alistar7]

Excelsior - Had no clue they were using such high output machines. I have worked with a few converted medical high energy units, but they were all <5mv. I realized later you would be using high energy for therapy, any clue what they are using for standard x-rays?
(Can't get too hot for me, especially after this winter in Ohio.)

Eeezee - I was actually suggesting that they'd have closer to normal levels of radiation exposure as a combination of a) working in a nuclear power plant (higher dose) and b) having big shields that potentially block some cosmic rays (lowering their normal dose). No one has actually studied this, I'm sure.

And technically you don't have to wear a film badge at all no matter how long your stay is, by your logic.

The numbers are out there, they would still have slightly higher than average accumulated annual dose. The amount absorbed from cosmic radiation is at least 5x less than from working in a nuclear setting, but both are still neglible. Of the natural sources of radiation you absorb, the most (@ 25%) comes from your own body.

There are regulatory requirements for those that are employed in a radioactive producing environment, technically they must wear one. 3 factors have an effect on the amount of radiation you absorb, distance, shielding, and time. The longer you are exposed, the more relevant your need for a long term, cumalitive, monitoring device and permanent, documented records. A dosimeter is generally used to record very short periods.

Trust me, if you are visiting a high energy facility and they "oops" that badge is not gonna save their ass, or yours. But if you come down with radiation poisoning from another source they will be protected.

 

[Excelsior]

Excelsior - Had no clue they were using such high output machines. I have worked with a few converted medical high energy units, but they were all <5mv. I realized later you would be using high energy for therapy, any clue what they are using for standard x-rays?

Well it depends. Do you mean what energies do they typically use in the Radiology department for diagnostic x-rays?

Of course, most Radiation Oncology departments are switching over to (or already have) CT units instead of conventional simulators (which utilize flouroscopy). The only standard x-rays in this case are the portal images taken at the treatment machine, to verify patient setup/positioning. But sometimes these images are taken using the Megavoltage treatment beam because some departments don't have kilovoltage imaging systems built in to the treatment machine.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Alistar7
and there is conclusive evidence AQ was operating in the northern areas of Iraq. I don't care if they were not working hand in hand, AQ still had potential access to WMD materials, knowledge, and technology.

And, the point of that is...?

There is conclusive evidence that AQ was operating in the US as well. And, their access to WMD materials wasn't just "potential" - their access was actual (if you'd call ramming a jet into a tall building a weapon.) It certainly qualifies as mass destruction.

 

[LegendKiller]

That Thomas Jefferson wasn't the near deity that grade school history books portray him as.