Our world is full of radiation – and knowledge of the many forms of radiation that we use without hesitation or of which we are afraid varies greatly. The FS Board of Directors has therefore decided to name a specific form of radiation as “Radiation of the Year” each year in order to highlight its role in our modern society, its risks and its importance for radiation protection.

This initiative was introduced in the last meeting in Liverpool in October 2024 and several representatives showed their interest in this initiative, click here.

The German-Swiss Association has created a webpage about its initiative Radiation of the Year .

Background information on the “Radiation of the Year” project.

Motivation, objectives, target groups, implementation, public relations.

The previous Radiation of the Year awards from the German Radiation Protection Association

Radiation of the year 2025 – gamma rays –

Gamma radiation (rays)
is a particularly penetrating electromagnetic radiation that is produced after the radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus, e.g. via alpha or beta decay. It was discovered in 1900, 125 years ago, by the French physicist and chemist Paul Ulrich Villard (28.09.1860-13.01.1934).

While investigating the properties of radium, he discovered that there is a magnetically non-deflectable part of the radiation emitted by radium. As this component was also able to penetrate aluminum and thin lead plates, he presented this radiation as a new radiation, in addition to the alpha and beta radiation already described by Becquerel, Mr. and Mrs. Curie and Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford. Although Villard correctly interpreted the results of his experiments and thus discovered the new rays, his discovery was initially largely ignored by the scientific community. It was not until 1903 that these new rays were first named “gamma rays” by Rutherford.

Gamma radiation is used in industry, e.g. for testing weld seams, measuring fill levels or sterilizing objects and products, mostly in medicine or pharmacy. In medicine, gamma radiation is used for diagnostics and in some cases for tumor therapy. Radionuclides are often detected via their gamma radiation.

For a detailed article on the history of the discovery of gamma radiation, its origin, formation, properties, effects, use, measurement, and reams, as well as protection against it, see The decay of radionuclides in the ground also produces gamma radiation, which, together with cosmic radiation, is an essential component of radiation exposure to humans.sem document.

The decay of radionuclides in the ground also produces gamma radiation, which, together with cosmic radiation, is an essential component of radiation exposure to humans.

A detailed article on the history of the discovery of gamma radiation, its origin, formation, properties, effect, use, measurement, and risks as well as protection against it can be found –> here

This initiative is performed by FS, and for FS-webpage click here.