First of all, what is a gamma ray? A gamma ray is high-energy ionized radiation (EPA). Gamma photons have approximately 10,000 times more energy than (EPA) photons. On top of that, gamma ray wavelengths are so short that they must be measured in nanometers (EPA). They are also the strongest type of radiation and this makes them the most dangerous. How dangerous are gamma rays? A gamma ray photon has enough energy to damage atoms in your body and make them radioactive (Christian, Eric). Gamma ray radiation also causes fatal burns, breast, lung and thyroid cancer, genetic diseases (Asiye, Gul). But when did we discover gamma rays? In 1896 Henri Becquerel, a French physicist, discovered gamma rays, he called them metallic phosphorescence (EPA). Becquerel had discovered that gamma radiation was emitted by radium (EPA). There is quite a bit of history involving gamma ray radiation. We learned that gamma rays coming from space are mostly absorbed by Earth's atmosphere, meaning that gamma ray astronomy could not be developed until we could study it from the outside (Mattson, Barbra). The first gamma-ray telescope was built and sent into space in 1961, as it was found to collect fewer than 100 gamma-ray photons that appeared to come from all directions of the universe (Mattson, Barbra). The first successful detection of gamma-ray radiation in space occurred in 1967 by the gamma-ray detector aboard the OSO-3 satellite, which detected 621 gamma-ray reports (Mattson, Barbra). Subsequently, the SAS-2 and COS-B satellites provided additional data on gamma-ray radiation (Mattson, Barbra). Data from these satellites confirmed previous data found in the background of gamma rays, they also produced the first detailed map of the sky with the gamma ray wave le...... middle of paper ...... radiation of mma rays (Laser cans). They claim it blocks gamma ray radiation 99% of the time compared to using lead or concrete blocks to protect us from gamma ray radiation. In conclusion, gamma rays, I have learned, are dangerous but sometimes useful. Much research has been conducted on the study of gamma rays and gamma ray radiation. Gamma rays have a huge amount of energy and their wavelengths are very small. I never thought there was such a thing as gamma rays that could cause cancer. Works Cited Christian, Eric. “Ask an astrophysicist.” Imagine the NASA Universe. NASA.1998. Network. November 13, 2013.EPA. “Radiation protection”. US Environmental Protection Agency. BEE. 2013. Web. November 13, 2013. Packham, Brad. Personal interview. Nov 13, 2013 Asyie, Gul. “Hybrid polymeric gamma-ray shielding material.” Can lasers HOW lasers can HOW Web. November 13 2013.