Who Discovered Nuclear Decay? A Key Moment in Radioactivity History

Discover who found nuclear decay and its impact on the field of radioactivity.

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Nuclear decay was discovered by Henri Becquerel in 1896 while he was investigating the properties of naturally fluorescent minerals. This discovery was a significant milestone in the field of radioactivity, which was later expanded upon by other notable scientists such as Marie and Pierre Curie.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What is nuclear decay? Nuclear decay is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation.
  2. How did the discovery of nuclear decay impact science? The discovery led to advancements in our understanding of atomic structure and radioactivity, which have implications in fields ranging from medicine to nuclear energy.
  3. What are the types of nuclear decay? The main types of nuclear decay include alpha decay, beta decay, and gamma decay.

Watch More

To explore more about the discoveries that shaped modern science, check out our videos on Marie Curie's work in radioactivity and the history of nuclear science.

  1. What Are the Radioactive Atoms and Their Characteristics? Discover which atoms are radioactive, their stability, and examples like uranium and radium.
  2. Understanding Thorium Beta Decay: What You Need to Know Learn how thorium undergoes beta decay and its role in the decay chain of Uranium-238.