NEW ATOMIC PILE
COMPLETION IN BRITAIN N.Z.P.A. Special Corres'pondent Rec. 8.30 p.m. LONDON. May 12. With the completion of the second atomic pile at Harwell atomic research station in Berkshire, Britain will now be able to produce all the radio-active isotopes needed for research. This will mean a considerable dollar saving, as previously it was necessary to import isotopes from America. Isotopes, which are artificially created radio-active atoms, are used in both biological and medical research. chiefly in the treatment of cancer and allied diseases and in increasing knowledge of life processes. An initial supply of isotopes was needed before the new pile could be operated and this was obtained fx - om the original Harwell pile erected under the supervision of the New Zealand scientist, Mr O. N. Watscn-Munro, when he was on the staff of the Harwell station.
So far isotopes of about 30 different types have been produced at Harwell in varying quantities. An important part of the work at Harwell is designing special types of packings in which isotopes can safely be transported. Great care is necessary in designing these packages in order to prevent the release*of radio-active material.
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Otago Daily Times, Issue 26770, 13 May 1948, Page 7
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192NEW ATOMIC PILE Otago Daily Times, Issue 26770, 13 May 1948, Page 7
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