What is Strontium-90?
Strontium-90 (Sr-90) is a radioactive isotope that is produced in nuclear fission, the splitting of an atom’s center that releases energy. Sr-90 has a half-life of about 29 years and emits a beta particle as it decays. Sr-90 is used as a radioactive tracer in medical and agricultural studies. The heat generated as Sr-90 radioactively decays can be converted to electricity for long-lived, light-weight power supplies. Some examples are navigational beacons, weather stations, and space vehicles.
