NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration


Ask an Astrobiologist
"Just as a big truck creates a 'whoosh' all around when it passes by, will Toutatis create one as well (like a swoosh or a 'wind')?"
  1. Question

    What is the role of technologies such as the use of radioisotopes in tracing the path of elements through living plants and animals?

    Radioisotopes are an essential tool of biology and medicine. With sensitive modern detectors, we can use radioisotopes for non-intrusive monitoring of much of the complex chemistry taking place inside living creatures. There is lots of material on the Internet on this topic; for example, check out the google cached information under Radioactivity FAQ.

    David Morrison
    NAI Senior Scientist

    August 8, 2005

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