Clues In That Mysterious Radioactive Cloud Point Toward Russia
Western scientists say they may never know the source of the cloud of ruthenium-106 that hovered over Europe last month. But what little data there is suggests a research facility inside Russia.
by Geoff Brumfiel
Nov 17, 2017
4 minutes
The tiny nation of Denmark has just three stations for monitoring atmospheric radiation. Each week, scientists change out air filters in the detectors and take the used ones to a technical university near Copenhagen.
There, Sven Poul Nielsen and other researchers analyze the filters. They often snag small amounts of naturally occurring radioactivity, radon for example.
Then about a month ago, Nielsen was startled to find something far stranger: a radioactive isotope known as ruthenium-106.
Ruthenium-106 has a half-life of just one year, which means that it isn't naturally found on Earth. It is, however, created in the glowing cores
You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.
Start your free 30 days