George Marx

Effects of residential radon on cancer incidence

Radon activity concentrations of 1077 homes were surveyed in two villages of Northern Hungary to obtain the yearly averages. The distribution of indoor radon activity concentrations covered a wide range. Cancer incidences of all the 2680 inhabitants for the last 30 years were also studied in these villages in order to establish a possible correlation with radon exposure. The methods applied in the analysis allow to draw up statistically supported statements concerning the relative cancer risks of different radon level groups. The results show that among non-smoking middle-aged women the frequency of cancer, regardless to tumor types, is lower for those who live in residential radon activity concentrations of a level between 110 and 185 Bq.m-3 compared to those living in radon levels outside this range. A minimum value in the cancer frequency exists at a level of significance p<0.008 (determined with the help of Fishers test). In general, the present study corroborates the outcome of other studies demonstrating the existence of a biopositive effect, and suggests a wider concept of radon health effects.

Lower cancer risk in medium high radon

Radon exposure was shown to be carcinogenic and suggested as a possible causative factor for lung cancer in man. A hypothesis is introduced that medium high radon (between 110 and 165 Bq/m3) causes lower cancer risk among women younger than 61 years, independent of the type of cancer. The presented results verify this statement with a probability of not less than 98%.

High radon activity in northeast Hungary

A seismologically active geological overthrust zone produces enhanced CO2, H2S, CH4 and Rn exhalation in a village of the Matra mountain. This recently discovered phenomenon results in a radon activity density above 1 kBq/m3 in the air of living rooms of several houses. The rocks are not rich in uranium, the soil exhalation is still intensive, but it varies in space and time, therefore a rather detailed radon mapping of the village in different seasons is reported here, not so much to clarify the geophysical situation but to know the doses affecting the population. Radon insulation is not yet common in this region. Expensive insulation methods seem to work, but more economical ways of satisfying the needs of the population must be found. Radon awareness of the population helps in avoiding panic, and with appropriate life style it enables them to suppress radon concentration in their environment.

Message through time

Abstract If one takes the time difference among galactic civilizations into account, small unmanned space probes of long duration have been considered as a possible channel for interstellar communication. Criticizing the electronic engineering approach, we offer some nonconformist suggestions which make use of the possibilities offered by different sciences.

The myth of the martians and the golden age of Hungarian science

Enrico Fermi was a man with outstanding talents, he had many interests outside his own particular field. He was credited with asking famous questions. There are long preambles to Fermis questions like this: — ‘The universe is vast, containing myriads of stars, many of them not unlike our Sun. Many of these stars are likely to have planets circling around them. A fair fraction of these planets will have liquid water on their surface and a gaseous atmosphere. The energy pouring down from a star will cause the synthesis of organic compounds, turning the ocean into a thin, warm soup. These chemicals will join each other to produce a self-reproducing system. The simplest living things will multiply, and evolve by natural selection and become more complicated. And eventually active, thinking creatures will emerge. Civilization, science and technology will follow. Then, yearning for fresh worlds, they will travel to neighboring planets, and later to planets of nearby stars. Eventually they should spread out all over the Galaxy. These highly exceptional and talented people could hardly overlook such a beautiful place as our Earth’. And so Fermi came to his overwhelming question, — ‘If all this has been happening, they should have arrived here by now, so where are they?’ It was Leo Szilard, a man with an impish sense of humor who supplied the perfect reply to Fermis rhetoric: ‘They are among us’, he said, ‘but they call themselves Hungarians’.

Simulation games in science education

Abstract ‡The text is based on a workshop organized during the GIREP Seminar on Physics Education at Balaton, Hungary, 1981

Risks of radioactivity

This is the second part of a paper presented at the 1991 Pan-American Science Conference in Venezuela. The first part appeared in the January 1993 issue and the final part will be published in the May issue.

Questions concerning the history of the atmosphere

Phenomena influencing the atmospheric temperature of our planet in the past are discussed. Attention is called to some puzzling questions concerning the evolution of the thermodynamic balance in the oceans and in the atmosphere of the Earth, which may be relevant for understanding the future influence of the increasing CO2 content.

Edward Teller ninety

Edward Teller is a member of a very fortunate great generation. He was born into this exciting 20th century. As a university student he witnessed the birth of quantum mechanics, one of the boldest cultural venture of human spirit, and he actively participated in widening the realm of physics to chemistry and astrophysics. And he was one of the main actors in shaping the history of this century by realizing the potential power of modern physics. We greet him from his native country in the name of Hungarian physicists.

Entropy in the universe

The relic microwave radiation indicates that the universe was in the state of thermal equilibrium (heat death) in the past. The question arises how could it happen that the universe departed from the thermal equilibrium? According to the models presented here this was the outcome of an interplay among dynamic instability, matter differentiation and weakening of some interactions.