#tritium

Tritium radioluminescent tube - Hydrogen sample

This is a tiny ampule containing tritium, another isotope of hydrogen. This one has two neutrons and is radioactive, with a half-life of 12.32 years, decaying into helium-3 via alpha decay.

This ampule is lined with a phosphor that the tritium's radiation keeps perpetually charged, allowing it to glow in the dark 24/7. This is similar to how radium and promethium watches used to glow in the dark; in fact, tritium tubes like these are used in modern always-glowing watches.

Only a small amount of the middling beta radiation makes it through the glass; my Radiacode 102 measures 15 counts per second laying on it, where its normal background is about 2.5-3.

Source: Bruce ACfun on Amazon

Date of Acquisition: ca. June 2021

Price: $26 (no longer available)

Protium's very quirky siblings

one has depression the other saw The Horrors

Back from a hiatus because this one is a doozy to do but I've decided hey, let myself loose a bit and stop taking things too seriously! So I made a satirical take on it by basing it on Vault Boy with theme! So...

Day 8 - Nuclear Power

In the advent of the next Industrial Revolution, innovations in generating nuclear power have seen advancements necessary to pivot it to (relatively) safe commercial use in even everyday batteries. This prompted a mad scramble for energy companies to invest in R&D for nuclear power. However, environmentalists, activists and especially oil companies (that funded the former) have been staunch opponents of this venture as they aim to strengthen the public stigma against nuclear power use. Big energy companies such as TriEn Corp., thus, would find ways to grab the public's attention more positively to promote nuclear energy.

To strengthen their PR and front-facing business, they hired an artist who would design their company mascot, Trix Tritium, to promote the benefits of nuclear energy (and possibly downplay its hazardous effects). She was marginally successful, playing into her positive attitude to win people over social media, but not enough to garner enough attention from the public to care.

However, to the dismay of the company and to the amusement of the artist who made her, it wasn't until a user (possibly an employee from a TriEn Nuclear Power Plant) that her popularity skyrocketed when leaks of danger signs for various hazards in the plant were posted on their social media. These were not supposed to be public, but the shocking yet playful nature of what happens to her when dealing with the hazards had spawned several jokes and fan art online, inspired by her predicaments.

Oops, All Neutrons is also known as Neutral Quadrium, Nydnonen, and Goth Tritium.

"So where you been, huh?"