6 - Applications of nuclear science and radioisotope technology in advanced sciences and scientific research (space, nuclear forensics, nuclear medicine, archaeology, hydrology, etc.)

Abstract

Nuclear science and its peaceful applications are of great importance since World War II due to their contribution to advancing sustainable development and global prosperity. The applications of nuclear science and radioisotope technology have played a prominent role in advanced science and scientific research including but not limited to space exploration, nuclear medicine, nuclear forensics, archaeology, geology, palaeontology, hydrology, and many more. Nuclear and isotopic technology has contributed to the prediction and treatment of millions of patients around the world who suffer from serious and intractable diseases such as cancer, heart, and brain diseases that traditional medicine could not treat. Nuclear technology also helped solve the mystery of many complicated cases in the courts by providing important and absolute information in light of the development of crime tools. Irradiating microscopic and macroscopic evidence using nondestructive quantitative and qualitative radiological analysis methods provides conclusive evidence during trials. The radioisotopes dating method is a vital branch of nuclear science that is widely used in many applications such as archaeology, climatology, hydrology, geology, meteorology, and nuclear forensics science in determining the age of rocks, ancient artwork, cave paintings, engravings, and death date of organic matters. Nuclear science and radioisotope technology also play a pivotal role in water resource management and sustainability. Isotopic hydrology is one of the modern scientific research methods used to trace the effect of freshwater movement according to the water cycle and provide a better understanding in assessing and identifying sources of ground and surface water, their recharging mechanisms, their age, their movement, their interactions via analyzing the various isotopes labeled in the natural waters, and drawing the best hydrological isotopic map. This helps scholars to make evidence-based decisions about sustainable resource management for sustainable development. The peaceful application of nuclear science and isotope technologies are not only limited to the Earth but also reached the moon and neighboring planets. During the past 70 years, nuclear science has played important roles in making space exploration more successful, reliable, and cheaper since the first nuclear-powered spacecraft was launched on June 29, 1961, using the nuclear fission energy system, which is considered to be the best choice for the high-energy propulsion missions required for space missions. Space nuclear technology able to provide sustainable and long-term operational electricity needed for space missions by converting the energy produced from the decay of Plutonium-238 or Americium 241 into electrical energy using radioisotope thermoelectric generator to power satellites orbiting Earth for many years, space equipment, and international space stations.