The French exploded her first atomic bomb in February 1960 in the Sahara desert, whereas China did the same in 1964 in Sinkiang. In 1977, the US Defence Department announced the development of neutron bomb. All this happened in the beginning 20th century, when radioactive substances were practically unknown. Today, especially after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it is well recognised that radioactive compounds can threaten the whole human race, if not every form of life on this planet. As such it is important for all of us to know about such substances and what it stands for.
Radioactive compounds work by emitting an ionising radiation.
During the explosion of an atomic or thermonuclear bomb, in addition to the blast, heat, and light, the types of radiation are emitted from radioactive materials are characteristic of alpha, beta, gamma and x-rays. Each ray can penetrate the skin or any living cells, causing damage, and all this occurs for a fixed duration. It is this that determines the extent of danger that it causes. At the moment of detonation, gamma and x-rays are liberated in large quantities and are very penetrating. In particular, it is almost impossible to protect against the gamma rays.