It's radiation that can cause an atom to become charged. This decay changes the atom's nucleus, since mass from the nucleus is converted into the radiation's energy. It can range from tiny fractions of a second to billions of years. It's radiation found in air, earth, water and organisms. It's a colorless gas produced by the decay of uranium andof the most common forms of background radiation comes from radon.
Radon occurs in places where there's a lot of uranium in the underlying rock.
Radon collects in buildings, and the Environmental Protection Agency calls it the second-largest cause of lung cancer in the United States. X-rays are used in medical imaging and mammography. Many isotopes are used to track the movement of molecules in scientific research. Nuclear decay produces heat to drive turbines in nuclear power stations and ships. The decay of radioactive carbon is used to date archeological sites.