The discovery of x-rays in 1895 was a major turning point in diagnosing disease because physicians finally had a way to see inside the body without having to operate. According to Holcomb, one-third of Americans hospitalized each year undergo some sort of medical procedure that uses radiation. The diagnostic use of radiation, such as mammography, has led to major improvements in the detection and treatment of cancer. Such innovations have resulted in increased survival rates and improved quality of life for many patients. Radiation also has many industrial uses, for example, allowing industry to develop highly sensitive gauges, using radioisotopes, to measure the thickness and density of numerous materials, and imaging devices to inspect finished goods for weaknesses and flaws.
Food preservation is another prime use of radiation.
It is a common error to believe that nuclear power plants can explode like nuclear bombs. However accidents do, and have, occurred at nuclear reactors and other facilities, with varying consequences. In 1961, the Enrico Fermi Breeder Reactor in Michigan experienced a partially blocked coolant flow, and portions of the core overheated and melted. The reactor was promptly shut down and no radiation escaped. The Chernobyl accident, not only because of its severity, but especially because of the presence of radiation, has had a significant impact on human society.