Coral Core Samples Help Explain the Distribution of Nuclear Fallout Elements

Isolating fallout remnants in coral from nuclear testing during the 1950’s and 1960’s scientists from Austria and Australia are identifying current patterns throughout the ocean. During the fifties and sixties massive efforts to test nuclear devices released radioisotopes like uranium-236 all throughout the globe, and because this element is water-soluble it can be caught in ocean currents and carried to reefs where it can be metabolized by coral. Just like trees some coral species deposit yearly banding rings in their skeletons and the measure of radioisotopes can be analyzed through core samples. Photo courtesy of iaea.org Tracing the chronology of nuclear testing while noting concentrations throughout time enables the study of inter-hemispheric water channels and the exchange of elements throughout reefs. The core sample chosen for the study was taken from the Turneffe Atoll in the Caribbean as current waters from the Southern Atlantic meat the Northern hemisphere; an ideal location. These findings will help us better understand the effects of 50+ years of nuclear and atmospheric testing and hopefully prevent further deposit of nuclear chemicals. Read more here!