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The Strange Case of Solar Flares and Radioactive Decay Rates

DarkKnightRadick writes "Current models for radioactive decay have been challenged by, of all sources, the sun. According to the article, 'On Dec 13, 2006, the sun itself provided a crucial clue, when a solar flare sent a stream of particles and radiation toward Earth. Purdue nuclear engineer Jere Jenkins, while measuring the decay rate of manganese-54, a short-lived isotope used in medical diagnostics, noticed that the rate dropped slightly during the flare, a decrease that started about a day and a half before the flare.' This is important because the rate of decay is very important not just for antique dating, but also for cancer treatment, time keeping, and the generation of random numbers. This isn't a one time measurement, either. 'Checking data collected at Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island and the Federal Physical and Technical Institute in Germany, they came across something even more surprising: long-term observation of the decay rate of silicon-32 and radium-226 seemed to show a small seasonal variation. The decay rate was ever so slightly faster in winter than in summer.'"

5 of 408 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Earth Date by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    They mentioned that in the article. Is there a frakkin echo in here?

  2. Re:In other news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    The alpha for 10.10 "Boinkin' Beaver" is out.

  3. Re:No confirmation from Cassini by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    What valid conclusion can one derive from the above facts? In my opinion, exactly one, which is more expensive, publicly funded research is necessary.

    FTFY

  4. What does it matter ? by OeLeWaPpErKe · · Score: 0, Troll

    Just about all evolutionists only believe evolution explains history. It's most trivial prediction, that every species (including humans) will exhaust any amount of resources*, so any society will eventually return to the kill or be killed resource wars. (you don't have to kill in these wars, but you have to commit actions that cause others to starve).

    The only reason we're (currently) not doing that is the exponential rise in available resources, during which peace is possible. Given finite resources, this period must end (and quite frankly, oil is the reason we're not doing this right now). This evident consequence of evolutionary theory, properly adjusted for groups (small groups) ... is not believed by any evolutionists. I wonder what replaces it ?

    * and obviously birth control or even any natural form of having less children lasts exactly until another group decides to have more, said group will take over in short order, no matter how small they are. If a 1% subgroup of society has 10% more children (and generally we're talking 200% or so), they will be a 99% majority in a mere about 20 generations.

    So really you have
    a) people who don't believe in evolution
    b) people who ... also don't believe in evolution. They just think this word explains how they're right and a) is wrong. Evolution is little more than a 9-letter sequence that "proves" how smart they are. But don't mention any content of the theory (esp. not the death part)

  5. Re:decay rates based on season? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    If the earth is 3% closer the inverse square law applies and gets a sum even higher than a 3% variance which is about 6% density variance. According to the same rules this produces a reaction rate change of about 12%. Sorry folks but the famous Neutrinos which have never been detected anyway are not the cause here. The real issue is the matter of electron voltage and such. Electron Voltage stuff that you can look up in the CRC Handbook... It is just this simple. No atom is unstable. All atoms are disrupted by receipt of specific Electromagnetic Potentials. If they encounter light wave of specific intensity and wave length the deed is done. Radioactive Decay is quite will quantitized and the numbers are in the handbook. To quote the doc in "Back to the Future" ---"This sucker is electrical." There remains one driver in control. The Maxwell equations work. Learn to live with it. Oh for all those folks who don't get the point. Your entire paradigm just hit the dirt. Your God of Einstein and your Hubble Constant and all that just wiped out entirely. I suggest you open your eyes and look at the facts. As to the source of the energy this is a potential in the stellar space and not particularly a product of the sun.