BBC Inside Science Nuclear medicine shortages and Jane Goodall on COP29
12 snips
Dec 12, 2024 
In this engaging discussion, Jane Goodall, the renowned conservationist and primatologist, reflects on her lifelong work with chimpanzees and the urgent need for climate action as COP29 approaches. Simon Middleborough dives into the alarming shortage of medical isotopes crucial for cancer diagnosis, explaining how aging reactors impact health outcomes. Volcanologist Robin George Andrews tackles the bold idea of disposing of nuclear waste in volcanoes, uncovering its feasibility. This captivating conversation intertwines wildlife conservation with pressing medical and environmental issues.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Medical Isotope Importance
- Medical isotopes are crucial for detecting and treating cancer, particularly using technetium-99m.
- Isotope shortages delay diagnoses and may cause premature deaths, highlighting their importance.
Isotope Properties
- Isotopes are radioactive elements with varying neutron numbers, making their nuclei unstable.
- This instability causes them to decay, emitting alpha, beta, or gamma particles used in medicine.
Isotope Production
- Technetium-99m is produced through a decay chain from molybdenum-99.
- Because isotopes decay rapidly, stockpiling is impossible.