Nuclear energy has many other uses. Small amounts of radioactive materials can detect illnesses and cure some diseases. Some hospital equipment is also kept especially clean or sterilized with radiation.
Radiation can be used to kill germs in food.
Radiation can be passed through food to kill germs. This makes the food last longer. Astronauts eat radiated food to prevent them from becoming unwell in space. However, some people argue that because we don’t know the effects of radiation on the body, it is unhealthy to radiate food.
Radiation can be used to find and treat diseases.
Radioactive chemicals help to show up problems in a person’s body. Radiation can also be used to treat diseases such as cancer, by destroying the harmful cells. X-rays that show up tissues and broken bones are also a type of radiation.
A nuclear submarine can stay at sea for months.
One tennis ball-sized lump of uranium can produce enough energy to power a nuclear submarine! The submarine can stay underwater for long periods of time without having to surface to collect extra supplies of fuel.
