Why Do Geiger Counters Make That Clicking Sound?

[@slothsonbikes]

After HBO's Chernobyl my youtube search history has gotten significantly more diverse. I'm glad SciShow is ready to feed my obsession.

[@DrSleep00]

Same here.

[@sicknickeroni]

I'm watching that right now lol! I'll be on episode 3 tonight because I watched 1 and 2 last night.

[@Nat-yi3vz]

HAHAHAH same..

[@kumar1400]

We all are mad scientist, we always hungry for knowledge about we don't know and nothing is wrong in that

[@1BrknHrtdRomeo]

LOL Watch Chernobyl...get paranoid and start looking for geiger counters to buy xD Unfortunately, they're not that cheap =(

[@annafalaxis3]

I used to work with these. I could calibrate them, use them, and read them, but I never knew exactly how they worked. Thank you for this video!

[@ThatAnimalChannel]

Thats super cool! I've been fascinated with them ever since I played my first fallout game. I even named my dog, the dog in my picture there, Geiger.

[@pedrosso0]

How did you know how to calibrate them without knowing how they work?

[@cerealdork2131]

@@pedrosso0 diversity hire

[@dancalvano8702]

@@cerealdork2131incel

[@kevinaweseom2866]

@@cerealdork2131literally bro. I hate diversity hires

[@SciencewithKatie]

I was confused about how Geiger counters worked, but then one day it just clicked...

[@tobiasadams1504]

Science with Katie badum tss

[@SciencewithKatie]

Tobias Adams I cringed so hard first time I heard that joke!

[@saltymcsaltface]

Ahhhhhh you!

[@sebastianelytron8450]

Well done! Your best comment yet! :D

[@two-face1041]

Science with Katie boooooooo

[@doggonemess1]

This is why it clicks, but they didn't say what makes the clicking sound. Depending on your meter (many older Geiger counters are actually radiation survey meters, the difference is a lack of counting) if you have one from before 1970 or so, it probably doesn't have a speaker. It has an electromagnet with a little steel plate next to it in a headphone. The signal turns the magnet on and off quickly, which makes the click. I always thought that was really cool.

[@dynamicworlds1]

You kinda just described how speakers work

[@doggonemess1]

@toxic Sure, but a speaker usually has a cone and is modulated. This is just a metal plate. I know, it's pretty much the same thing; I just think it's cool. :)

[@un1xify]

@@doggonemess1 3yrs later, and you’re still right. This is cool to know.

[@sophierobinson2738]

Having spent 1st and 2nd grade practicing "Duck and Cover" drills and watching short movies on the dangers of nuclear fallout, I'm very familiar with that sound.

[@naturegirl1999]

Was this during the Cold War?

[@ThatAnimalChannel]

I remember either a teacher or my mom, I can't exactly remember who. But someone told me when they where a very young child, they would wear tags to school to identify their bodies if such an event occured.

[@kindred7410]

@@ThatAnimalChannel 😳

[@VideoManDan]

@@naturegirl1999 nah the hot war, the one where we dropped fat man on Japan lol

[@Brian_itf]

3.6 roentgen....not great but not terrible

[@andrewslawson5969]

It's a about a chest xray

[@Brian_itf]

Fmono • 38 years ago • Updated he’s delusional, take him to the infirmary

[@Brian_itf]

Fmono • 38 years ago • Updated its a meme bro, from Chernobyl

[@strellettes8511]

@Fmono • 38 years ago • Updated go watch hbo's mini series "Chernobyl"

[@gonzaloparedes1091]

It's not 3 roentgen, it's 15000. That's twice the Hiroshima bombs, every hour, hour after hour.

[@maukaman]

Thanks SciShow! It was nice to see that my great grandfather Walther Müller got his credit on this one. Due to the craziness in Germany in that time period as well as Walther being a only a student at the time has led to his contribution to this invention being largely forgotten from what I can see. Also, “Geiger-Müller Counter” is quite a mouthful. I like to think that anyone who helped get a dusty 20 year old idea off the shelf and straight into scientific history deserves some recognition. So for that I thank you.

[@moonstryder1740]

Sick bit of history there! I wondered how a man (Mr Geiger) who lived so long ago, was able to make such a device. But only today found out who Mr Müller was that carried the flame.

[@SoulDragonWithFlow]

I tried to make a chemistry joke, but all the good ones Argon

[@adan5488]

SoulDragonWithFlow lol

[@doublebassrox]

Periodically some good ones are made

[@SoulDragonWithFlow]

That was sodium funny. I slapped my neon that one. Still, I don’t trust atoms; they make up everything .... :D

[@sophierobinson2738]

as Chemistry Cat said, "That was Sodium funny, I slapped my Neon it".

[@lefterikapnisakis7038]

NOOOOOOOO

[@johnbagel2560]

I am usually negative but after a nice day basking in the rays of ionizing radiation I feel pretty positive. *Not including the fact that I am dead of course*

[@catherinevo6060]

World History With Dan lol

[@spookbumps6598]

Oh look a ghoul. I wonder if it’s feral...

[@space3112]

oh wow that is a good pun.

[@MusiCaninesTheMusicalDogs]

I've never seena video with so much puns!

[@tomscisci7331]

You just need gamma radiation cola!

[@redcobra9588]

Geinger counter : " make noise" Chernobyl KZbinrs : " let's touch that radiated item / metal / anything "

[@chillnspace777]

As I walk further down this hallway the counter gets more sporadic l. Let's continue even further.

[@Grahf0]

Ruptured condenser lines, the feedwater is mildly contaminated. He'll be fine. I've seen worse.

[@augustovasconcellos7173]

It's natural selection. Just let it happen.

[@G_Singh222]

@@augustovasconcellos7173 Yeah keep believing that Darwinian bs

[@waffler-yz3gw]

@@G_Singh222 dont try to start an argument the man was making a joke. also natural selection is objectively real wtf are you even trying to say

[@BoSinnfan54]

I watched HBO's Chernobyl. After all episodes this clicking noise still remained in my head.

[@1BrknHrtdRomeo]

The episode when they were under the reactor and on top of the roof...when the spaced out crackles turn into just straight noise? I'm forever paranoid of radiation now.

[@jacplac97]

"Dangerous radiation level. Protection required to pass" Ok then... *chugs 4 bottles of cheap vodka* Bring it on, suka!.

[@masterdoge17]

*cyka

[@jacplac97]

@@masterdoge17 *Сука

[@rekindleproject7160]

@@jacplac97 сука is translated to Suka though... С is a s, y is a u, k is k, a is a

[@lyrimetacurl0]

@@jacplac97 that means by the 0th law of thermodynamics all three are equal.

[@dallasmckim4370]

Get out of here Stalker!

[@davidgoodwinjr.9298]

Geiger counter goes nuts after I fart in class. Everyone runs for the vault.

[@Depleted-Uranium]

I think you might have severe radiation poisoning my dude

[@stellazapa]

BHAHAHAH

[@NotBopEtc]

Such an eerie sound. Love it.

[@shogun2215]

Pff, Ive been hearing Geiger clicking since Half Life in 1998.

[@Dragoneer]

That’s called tinnitus

[@bokallos6919]

@@Dragoneer Hearing constant ringing and buzzing noises is a bit different then hearing a Geiger Counter clicking lol

[@Arma_kashi]

@@bokallos6919 Vital signs critical

[@kumar1400]

Modern Warfare - All Ghillied Up mission

[@devd_rx]

@@kumar1400 that one is a cool mission

[@shakezulas]

mines in the shop

[@polyjohn3425]

Bazinga

[@ModanoTheBest]

I came here looking for this comment. Thank you.

[@sxnchou]

shakezulas ????? Whats in the shop

[@Imaginehavingausernamelol]

shakezulas another settlement needs your help

[@Imaginehavingausernamelol]

shakezulas ad victoriam

[@DataCab1e]

To detect radiation in the Human Resources dept., one might use an H.R. Geiger Counter.

[@Nildread]

DataCab1e isn't that the device we use to find him though?

[@PumpkinHoard]

HR there have some serious problems, what with all the bio-mechanical penises and vaginas.

[@kensmith5694]

It is common to have a meter on a Geiger counter. In better quality ones, the dead time after each hit is corrected for.

[@kastro4460]

Michael: "My information might well be of use to you, viewer..."

[@jtsoto0702]

You don't hear the Geiger Counter detecing radiation because IT'S NOT THERE! *_pukes_*

[@11Tits]

Radiation is actually everywhere but it really low quantities (it won't hurt you)

[@ShadowLimited310]

It's not 3 roentgen, it's 15000

[@Matter655]

Someone gave the propoganda number

[@The_uglybastard]

Not great but not terrible

[@TheRohithshan]

Fmono • 38 years ago • Updated these are all dialogues from HBO's miniseries: Chernobyl

[@TheRohithshan]

Fmono • 38 years ago • Updated roentgen is a unit of radioactivity ... the higher the worse

[@carlthecoworker5596]

@@Matter655 We're going to need a new phone

[@rigrentals5297]

You guys do amazing work. I love SciShow!

[@Nozerone]

I always thought it was the magical tiny wizard trying to yell that there was radiation, but because he is so small the speaker can't properly generate his voice and all we hear is the crackling.

[@nathonix7072]

Now explain to me how an RMKB reactor explodes

[@spqrnemesis2801]

With lies!

[@shadowofthenight7316]

It can't

[@lyrimetacurl0]

@@shadowofthenight7316 it can't because it's not there! (The acronym is wrong so it can't explode)

[@LordBruuh]

Wtf is an rmkb reactor? Is it a reverse engineered chinese version?

[@jannadrielcervo7753]

@@LordBruuh No. Its a Soviet design 2nd generation nuclear reactor. But unlike PWR reactors, it uses graphite as moderators. But the advantage of it is that it is like a high performance car, it produces a lot of power, but compromises safety. Therefore it encountered power spike levels like what happened in the Ignalina nuclear power plant, and the meltdown at Chernobyl. But advantage of its design is that it can be refuelled without shutting it down completely, and that they can be converted to produce nuclear weapons.

[@duckmaneuvers]

The first time I heard the sound was from Half-Life 1. It makes the sound when I'm nearby radioactive pools on certain levels. I never knew why it makes that sound because I'm young back then. I've always assume that they're bubbles from the radioactive pools lol

[@hichamdadi3506]

I always thought that radiation makes that sound.😂

[@stvn___]

All the fallout references 😔

[@KarczekWieprzowy]

Yeah, nothing about Cheeki Breeki :

[@isaacford8200]

Fallout familyyyyyu

[@KarczekWieprzowy]

Yeah Fallout family a.k.a amerikanski bois, have you ever played S.T.A.L.K.E.R lil boy? That is the real deal

[@cheekybum1513]

STALKER and Metro 2033 are more niche. Fallout’s mass appeal so it makes more sense for them to pursue that.

[@aughhhhhg]

But can I eat the bottle caps?

[@hello3motos1]

Cheers! Was just calculating the deadtime for my counter and this really helped explain things!

[@Master_Therion]

When my nephew has been playing Fallout 4 for six hours his mom makes that clicking sound. tsk tsk tsk

[@Master_Therion]

I used to spend 50% of my time playing Half-Life. It was a Half-Life half life.

[@Nildread]

Master Therion what about half-life 2?

[@Master_Therion]

Logan I never got around to playing Half-Life 2... or 3 for that matter ;)

[@kasnitch]

tell him to Cesium and desist

[@lyrimetacurl0]

You spent half your life playing half life, and the other half sleeping. Which half of your life was wasted? 🤔

[@TheGeocacheHunter]

After a week of camping near a sealed yellow cake mine, I returned to my Geology class on the day they were talking about radiation with a Geiger counter. That day, I was scientifically proven to be the hottest guy in class.

[@DAN_CLERGYMAN]

Amazing

[@javaaugustus4469]

1:14 *"When a radiation atom decays"*

[@CatherineDupuis87]

Mine is in the shop.

[@generic-george]

Catherine Dore I see what you did there :)

[@sxnchou]

Catherine Dore what is in the shop lol?

[@triedmike9999]

The Railroad

[@triedmike9999]

@@sxnchou it's a fallout 4 reference

[@DanielLopez-lg3jr]

We remember fallout 4, so much references here

[@KarbineKyle]

Radioactivity is fascinating to me! I have G-M counters and a collection of radioactive sources. It's complicated stuff! But, I love it! G-M counters are used more for lower-level sources, because the tube can become saturated, and in some instruments, mostly older ones, the reading will drop to zero in a high radiation field, and the user might _think_ they're safe. Geometry is important. The larger the G-M tube, the more counts it will produce. And if it's a "pancake" type detector, with a mica window (which will detect alpha particles and lower-energy beta particles too), you can apply 2π geometry, which is great for calculating efficiencies of differing radionuclides (radioisotopes). Most modern G-M tubes are also "quenched" with a halogen. Mostly the older tubes were "quenched" with an organic vapor. This helps decrease spurious electron avalanches and decrease dead time, allowing for a faster recovery and response after a detection event. It is also important to know what the "dose to counts" conversion ratio is, for setting the tube's sensitivity, and this depends on what radionuclide the G-M counter is specifically calibrated to. Most modern G-M counters are calibrated with Cesium-137. For example, my *Inspector™ USB* G-M counter is calibrated with Cs-137, and the sensitivity is 3340 CPM/mR/hr. A different isotope, with the exact same specific activity and decay mode can be or will be vastly different when it comes to G-M tube sensitivity. It depends on the energy emitted from the isotope, and they are all different. A spectrometer can identify it, but a Geiger-Müller counter can only detect it. Different isotopes emit particles with different energies and at differing intensities. For example, Cobalt-60 decays by β- decay, with the energy being at 318 keV (max). The gamma ray byproducts emitted are both over 99.9% intensity at 1174 keV and 1332 keV. Cesium-137 decays by β- decay, with the energy being at 513 keV (max) and 1175 keV (max). The gamma ray byproducts emitted are 85% intensity at 661 keV. Therefore, the sensitivity of a G-M counter can vary greatly, depending on what radionuclide(s) are being measured, and efficiencies must be calculated for dose units or for determining the specific activity of the radioactive source. Again, it's complicated, but G-M counters are very useful instruments! *CPM* or *CPS* should _always_ be used instead of a dose unit, like *mR/hr* or *μSv/hr,* _unless_ it's specifically calibrated to the source your measuring (gamma only). There are energy-compensated G-M tubes and filters that can be used or applied to "flatten" out the sensitivity to energy curve, so that a dose unit, when used, can be at least pretty accurate. Also, if the tube has a mica window, it will detect alpha and lower-energy beta particles. Most G-M tubes can't. The thickness, size, dead time, sensitivity, voltage, distance used, time of measurement, shielding used, condition, and construction of the G-M tube and the hardware it's running off of are just some examples of what makes these complicated, but extremely useful for detecting ionizing radiation!

[@Fomites]

Thank you for that good information! As always, things are much more complicated than one initially thinks.

[@UngodlyAnatomy]

I went to Chernobyl last weekend, it was so neat and after renting a Geiger counter for the day I’ve become obsessed with how they work

[@xxXthekevXxx]

This is one of those questions I’ve always wondered, but never really thought about enough to look it up. Awesome!

[@21335186z]

Hmm my Geiger counter burned out, that's weird. Must be faulty. But it only goes to 3.6 roentgen.

[@Devo57]

“It’s not 3 roentgen, it’s 15,000.”

[@novoavern]

@@Devo57 Yes, Yes I get it, u just watched Chernobyl.

[@joaopedrocarneiro4645]

Not great not terrible

[@BichaelStevens]

@@novoavern It lives up to the hype

[@terrybradford3727]

This would of been a great companion piece for when I taught about radiation protection in the military.

[@HB-jf6yq]

Opened my smoke detector the other day. Stared at the americium 241 and it stared right back at me.

[@FacelessOfficial1]

0:11 I think is a little more high pinched but even so thanks for reminding me of that exceptional game..

[@FacelessOfficial1]

also nice reference at the end :p

[@BichaelStevens]

3.6 is as high as it goes with this cheap equipment The real number is 15000 Roentgen That's 2 Hiroshimas every hour

[@danielgorzelniak3209]

Not terrible

[@JustKillJoy]

@@danielgorzelniak3209 Not Great

[@Feedi112]

I've seen worse

[@Greg8098]

He’s delusional, take him to the infirmary

[@DylanJLIVE]

You didn’t see graphite because it WASNT THERE

[@ilikemusic2773]

I can't help but to keep looking at his rogue hands while he talks xD

[@GIRGHGH]

Radiation walked into a bar. It stopped by the counter to get an inert snapple. As they clicked the cap their attention went to the person who sold it to them. The movement police rushed in, dragging radiation away. What radiation saw was the name tag of the man. The man running the counter was named Geiger.

[@kolelokaram8541]

GIRGHGH Aka Girg Good thing that I am not lactose intolerant.

[@GIRGHGH]

Not sure I follow. Lactose was not mentioned.

[@kolelokaram8541]

GIRGHGH Aka Girg Yes, but your joke was quite cheesy.

[@docsamurai9199]

xD

[@GIRGHGH]

I've been upped.

[@KarbineKyle]

You should do *scintillation counters* next! For example, gamma-ray scintillation counters (depending on the specifications), will produce many _hundreds_ or even _thousands_ of CPM from just background radiation alone. I LOVE working with radioactive sources and detection equipment! I have been for over a decade! And I have dozens and dozens of radioactive sources, and I try to find the hottest sources I can find! It's an awesome hobby/field of science!

[@charliespurr7325]

Hottest sources? Just how hot are your sources dude?

[@itsnetts]

Just be careful and keep the sources in a lead box or something, yeah? We don't want another Marie Curie here :D

[@Matticitt]

0:27 thank you for the correct pronunciation of Walther.

[@Gaehhn]

Still butchered Müller quite a bit. Though there was an attempt.

[@BristlyBright]

@@Gaehhn exactly. Mule-rr.

[@warhawkjah]

2:17 a lot of older cell phones would cause this, usually right before in incoming call.

[@quincy0063]

Everybody gangster till your geigercounter shows 3.6 röntgen

[@themasterofmisanthropy7761]

This guy makes it easy to understand not to mention he speaks as fast as me

[@Sunlight91]

"If you hear a Geiger counter crackling stay away" Thank god no one brings a Geiger counter on an airplane or otherwise most of the country would suffer from severe radiation sickness.

[@OnTheRiver66]

I asked one Geiger counter manufacturer if my model could take the lower air pressures on a flight. He said it would not be damaged but advised me to turn the audio off so the other passengers would not be frightened.

[@claudesmoot1880]

That explains why I got a sunburn while visiting the Fukushima plant at night.

[@mags247]

Been hearing this sound since 1998, after the release of a masterpiece

[@mrlego611]

Dr.Magnusson Magnificent microwave casserole

[@troglastname4729]

Love that fallout 4 reference

[@xtdycxtfuv9353]

way cooler than i was expecting

[@MegaCokamo]

Bugga our covers blown -cpt. Macmillan

[@generalbuttnaked1184]

Let's go flyers

[@kensmith5694]

Many such things have "dead time correction'. Since the maker knows how long it takes to reset, they can contrive it to display counts per second of "live time". The math is easy to do electronically.

[@NorthEevee]

Preston Gravy: General, I got word of a settlement that need your help. Me: But I already just did that. And there are two more that need my aid. Preston Gravy: ... Preston Gravy: Let me mark it on your map.

[@fratercontenduntocculta8161]

I bought a Russian DP-5V geiger counter recently from a store on Etsy and am having all kinds of fun seeing what emits radiation. I've been fascinated by nuclear energy ever since I saw Chernobyl happen on TV almost 40 years ago. Thanks for feeding our heads during this crazy time SciShow!

[@bitterrussian]

Can u please tell me which seller did u buy it from? I’m trying to locate a working one and having trouble! I just woke ant a reliable actual Geiger counter that clicks instead of beeping. Because beeping doesn’t sound as authentic lol

[@maximo1590]

I have been learning about nuclear physics for about a year now and I really recommend the site lbl.gov, where you have the ABCs of nuclear physics

[@maximo1590]

Www2.lbl.gov/abc/wallchart/chapters/07/0.html

[@The__Creeper]

I recommend Captain Atom.

[@rockinstrawberries]

Right in time for my analytical chemistry midterm..

[@Blazin_Tundra]

Fallout 3 with all the DLC included is my favorite game of all time!!

[@fbi1307]

Why does this not have more views

[@phoenixh415]

Well I definitely clicked on this video because of fallout so thanks for that callout

[@octav1o141]

It kinda cool that the guy who invented the geiger counter just so happened to also be named geiger

[@samberg3864]

Nuca Cola Quantum (the drink you showed a copyright safe version of at the end) gives you more rads, it doesn't take them away. You need rad-x for that.

[@Gaehhn]

or Vodka

[@spookbumps6598]

Stfu nobody likes the truth

[@EvilDarkForcesRus]

rad-x doesn't remove rads either, just makes you more resistant to it, rad-away is you you need if you've already been exposed

[@weavv7803]

1- he said refreshing beverage a drink which cure 1000 rads and 2- rad x give you resistance, rad away removes them

[@samberg3864]

EvoMK4 yea you're right about rad-x, my bad. I have no idea what you're talking about besides that. There's no item called "a refreshing beverage" which "cure 1000 rads", as you put it. He said "a refreshing beverage" while showing a copyright safe version of Nuka Cola Quantum, which adds rads.

[@suchcone]

Was too busy admiring the eye candy to take note of what was being said!

[@colinmartin9797]

I literally just missed this day of chemistry 161 on friday and my final is tomorrow. Thanks scishow!

[@TheIcyWizard705]

That geiger counter clicking always spooked me, maybe it's my brain saying radiation is bad

[@Greg-ku7rn]

Sure, but can you explain how an RBMK reactor core explodes, comrade?

[@seasesh4073]

The bullets, it's the bullet

[@TrinitySoundss]

Every day you learn something new

[@Huberman1234]

Tick-tick-tickady means: "run your ass outta there", then pop some rad-away just to be sure.

[@The__Creeper]

Too bad it's always ticking.

[@BichaelStevens]

Iodine pills. For your thyroid. Take one an hour until you run out of it.

[@damianxxx3118]

I think I...understood like 20% of what you said but oh well I always sucked in science 🤣

[@umbranox6891]

Coincidentally, I'm playing fallout 4 while I watch (listen to) this video

[@Wise_King_Solomon]

Garrison Hoke same, how ironic

[@iainballas]

My rule: If the Gieger Counter starts clickin' I run like a chicken

[@khavaliar]

You did not see any graphite!

[@anonymoushater8479]

BECAUSE IT'S NOT THERE. YOU DIDN'T SEE ANY GRAPHITE BECAUSE AN RBMK REACTOR CAN'T EXPLODE

[@joebunko1146]

Love a short video for a short topic

[@toasty_mcdanish]

I work at a nuclear pharmacy, I hear that meter all the time. What he failed to mention was how much of that ionizing radiation it takes to actually be considered dangerous. Ever use a cell phone, a microwave or even stepped outside?

[@mr.microcuries2078]

Dana B I get what you were going at but a Geiger counter can not measure cell phone radiation or microwave radiation. Those are non Ionizing radiation sources. You are correct that most people get freaked out when they hear a Geiger counter click fast even if it's just background radiation. Also your right that it really does take a lot to be considered dangerous. In all honestly I've heard a number of interesting comments from medical rad techs so it's really the training programs fault and not yours. But it's still terrifying that y'all are not taught how this stuff actually works. When asking for what specific dose I would get from an x ray the rad tech did not know what USv or mRem was and just said I would get as much as I do from the light from the sun... it was an interesting day lol.

[@krashd]

The limitations of geiger counters helped the administrators at Chernobyl hide the disaster from Moscow for almost two days by repeatedly telling the nuclear governing agency that detections were no higher than 30 microsieverts per hour, despite that being the maximum detection limit of the handheld counters being used. The truth was that radiation around the destroyed reactor was several thousand times greater but the only dosimeter powerful enough to give accurate readings was buried under the rubble on the body of the guy whose job it was to use it. In fact Viktor Bryukhanov, the manager of the plant even stood by his assertions two days later when suits from Moscow pointed to the big hole where the reactor used to be and asked "30 microsieverts, really?"

[@jpy5349]

Nuka-Cola, anyone? Stimpak? RadAway? Fat Man? Or 1000 Caps?

[@aughhhhhg]

jpy I’m going to take the stimpak

[@andremoore810]

This was a surprisingly great episode even though it was short. Not sure why or how but keep it up guys.

[@guvyygvuhh298]

2:15 Osmium is literally twice as heavy. But is rly expensive. Tungsten on the other hand, is cheaper, is harder and is salts are not toxic. Git gud m8

[@josephhuston4186]

I am glad you chose to do bio instead of history videos

[@Blistio11]

My Geiger counter, dear, tells me that your hot, heh heh. And the ring on your finger, dear, glow-ow-ow-ows in the dark.

[@rubbers3]

If you're listening to that Geiger counter song You'll tic, tic all day long

[@JuanMongeJ-3Dmo]

Just gotta say: Thanks for this great explanation, keep it up!

[@insanegamer23899]

Maybe one day we'll invent radaway

[@The__Creeper]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex-Rad Been there, done that.

[@aughhhhhg]

Huh

[@americanpanzer4163]

Never thought I would be watching a science video outside of school but here I am

[@AlyshiaAMO]

Why does lead prevent radiation from passing threw it?

[@generic-george]

Alyshia OBrien I'm assuming it's because it's too dense? Idk Google it.

[@VierasMarius]

As GenericGeorge says, it's because of density. The more mass between you and a source of radiation, the more likely an energetic particle will hit something and be absorbed before reaching you. Lead is quite dense, so you can fit a lot of mass in a small space, making it ideal for radiation protection. There's probably more to it than just that, but that's my layman's TLDR understanding at least.

[@SoulDragonWithFlow]

Electromagnetic radiation is stopped by electrons, so materials with more electrons stop it better and so it scales with mass. The more atoms you have the better the protection. Lead is the densest/heaviest stable material on the periodic table and so has the best rad protection which is why it’s used in production of rad sheilds, aprons, suits and glass.

[@gazelle1467]

because it's thicc af

[@AlyshiaAMO]

That makes perfect sense! Thanks VierasMarius and SoulDragonWithFlow for the info, much appreciated!!! I kind of figured it had something to do with the large amount of mass lead has.

[@mineola_]

I always extra enjoy episode with Michael as a host. I just think he's really good. I wouldn't mind if he did more of them. :)

[@johnnyfavorite1194]

*Sparks, Smoke, and Electrical Arcs* fly out of Geiger Counters inside my bathroom after I take a steaming, gag-inducing, smelly, radioactive dump.

[@davidperry4013]

modern geiger counters uses a piezo buzzer to make the click sound but, it's a higher-pitched more electronic sound.

[@GimliLordOfGlitteringCaves]

Not great not terrible

[@UCvow2TUIH0d2Ax2vik9ILzg]

Neat. My chest makes the Geiger counter noise when I breathe out, especially at night. So I figured I'd check out how Geiger counters work.

[@zzoidbergz727]

Lung inflammation. Visit a doctor please.

[@spartan80]

Mine's in the shop.

[@wisteela]

I'd never thought about why it's that sound before.

[@The__Creeper]

But geiger counters are always "crackling" because of background radiation.

[@YeOldeTraveller]

I built a Geiger counter starting with just the tube for a Science Fair project.

[@NeoRipshaft]

Aw, you should have referenced S.T.A.L.K.E.R. instead of fallout, but alright =p

[@SpaceDwarfNova]

WHY DO I FEEL LIKE I'M FREEZING WHEN I GET OUT OF THE SHOWER

[@aughhhhhg]

You go into the in the glowing sea

[@pedropaulozaneladacruz5119]

Nice

[@pikminlord343]

what a great explanation

[@Demovamon]

I’m here after watching HBO’s *Chernobyl* 😀

[@StormzTH]

Everybody gangsta until geiger counter start clicking

[@arjunrajan9374]

Radiation equivalent to just a chest xray, nothing serious

[@TheSecondVersion]

Imagine how much money you'll save in healthcare costs 4 million chest x-rays for the price of one!