Exploring Chernobyl: How Radiation Changes a Territory | Andrea Bonisoli Alquati | TEDxCPP

we tend to think of exploration as

we tend to think of exploration as something for a different time in

something for a different time in

something for a different time in history a time when explorers used to

history a time when explorers used to

history a time when explorers used to wear khaki shirts and have their tea

wear khaki shirts and have their tea

wear khaki shirts and have their tea served in their tents at the end of a

served in their tents at the end of a

served in their tents at the end of a day roaming the jungle or of course we

day roaming the jungle or of course we

day roaming the jungle or of course we think of Indiana Jones and his cool hat

think of Indiana Jones and his cool hat

think of Indiana Jones and his cool hat and even cooler whip immediately regret

and even cooler whip immediately regret

and even cooler whip immediately regret that those those days are gone there’s

that those those days are gone there’s

that those those days are gone there’s nothing for us Uncharted but this is not

nothing for us Uncharted but this is not

nothing for us Uncharted but this is not true

true

true there are countless territories out

there are countless territories out

there are countless territories out there for us to explore true areas the

there for us to explore true areas the

there for us to explore true areas the size of countries might not be there

size of countries might not be there

size of countries might not be there anymore

anymore

anymore we all have satellite images we can

we all have satellite images we can

we all have satellite images we can access them to our phones but

access them to our phones but

access them to our phones but territories change and become uncharted

territories change and become uncharted

territories change and become uncharted as a matter of fact we are a force for

as a matter of fact we are a force for

as a matter of fact we are a force for changes in territories throughout the

changes in territories throughout the

changes in territories throughout the world and it’s not always for the better

world and it’s not always for the better

world and it’s not always for the better frankly we one way we cause changes in

frankly we one way we cause changes in

frankly we one way we cause changes in territories is by spreading contaminants

territories is by spreading contaminants

territories is by spreading contaminants chemical substances that change the

chemical substances that change the

chemical substances that change the physical and chemical characteristics of

physical and chemical characteristics of

physical and chemical characteristics of a territory and also affect the

a territory and also affect the

a territory and also affect the organisms that live in those territories

organisms that live in those territories

organisms that live in those territories think of the plastic bottles that we all

think of the plastic bottles that we all

think of the plastic bottles that we all use and end up in the ocean where they

use and end up in the ocean where they

use and end up in the ocean where they can harm wildlife well think of the co2

can harm wildlife well think of the co2

can harm wildlife well think of the co2 from our cars that is having such

from our cars that is having such

from our cars that is having such widespread effects throughout the world

widespread effects throughout the world

widespread effects throughout the world or think of the chemicals that we

or think of the chemicals that we

or think of the chemicals that we discharge in rivers but perhaps these

discharge in rivers but perhaps these

discharge in rivers but perhaps these effects are never as evident as in the

effects are never as evident as in the

effects are never as evident as in the case of environmental disasters like the

case of environmental disasters like the

case of environmental disasters like the nuclear disasters of Chernobyl and

nuclear disasters of Chernobyl and

nuclear disasters of Chernobyl and Fukushima these were the two wars

Fukushima these were the two wars

Fukushima these were the two wars nuclear disasters in history the 1986

nuclear disasters in history the 1986

nuclear disasters in history the 1986 disaster at Chernobyl nuclear power

disaster at Chernobyl nuclear power

disaster at Chernobyl nuclear power plant in what is now Ukraine used to be

plant in what is now Ukraine used to be

plant in what is now Ukraine used to be Soviet Russia

Soviet Russia

Soviet Russia and the accident in Japan at the

and the accident in Japan at the

and the accident in Japan at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant as

Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant as

Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant as a result of a tsunami

a result of a tsunami

a result of a tsunami that hit a plant in 2011 these are the

that hit a plant in 2011 these are the

that hit a plant in 2011 these are the places where I conduct my research and

places where I conduct my research and

places where I conduct my research and research in contaminated places can be

research in contaminated places can be

research in contaminated places can be done in many ways usually it starts by

done in many ways usually it starts by

done in many ways usually it starts by building charting the distribution of

building charting the distribution of

building charting the distribution of contaminants using a map much like this

contaminants using a map much like this

contaminants using a map much like this where darker colors indicate higher

where darker colors indicate higher

where darker colors indicate higher levels of radiation around Chernobyl and

levels of radiation around Chernobyl and

levels of radiation around Chernobyl and therefore more danger but I’m a

therefore more danger but I’m a

therefore more danger but I’m a biologist and as a biologist I’m more

biologist and as a biologist I’m more

biologist and as a biologist I’m more interested in the organisms that live in

interested in the organisms that live in

interested in the organisms that live in these territories like this Kingfisher

these territories like this Kingfisher

these territories like this Kingfisher that I caught at a cooling pond near the

that I caught at a cooling pond near the

that I caught at a cooling pond near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant when the

Chernobyl nuclear power plant when the

Chernobyl nuclear power plant when the disaster like Chernobyl happens

disaster like Chernobyl happens

disaster like Chernobyl happens I immediately wonder what will happen to

I immediately wonder what will happen to

I immediately wonder what will happen to these organisms a territory they used to

these organisms a territory they used to

these organisms a territory they used to be charted becomes uncharted and so

be charted becomes uncharted and so

be charted becomes uncharted and so today I want to take you with me to

today I want to take you with me to

today I want to take you with me to explore the radioactive territory around

explore the radioactive territory around

explore the radioactive territory around Chernobyl the disaster itself was quite

Chernobyl the disaster itself was quite

Chernobyl the disaster itself was quite a terrifying one again the worst nuclear

a terrifying one again the worst nuclear

a terrifying one again the worst nuclear disaster in history but also one that

disaster in history but also one that

disaster in history but also one that had many consequences for the people

had many consequences for the people

had many consequences for the people that lived in the area the contamination

that lived in the area the contamination

that lived in the area the contamination the fallout from the disaster which was

the fallout from the disaster which was

the fallout from the disaster which was due to error in the design of the

due to error in the design of the

due to error in the design of the reactor as well as to errors in handling

reactor as well as to errors in handling

reactor as well as to errors in handling safety at the power plant did not limit

safety at the power plant did not limit

safety at the power plant did not limit were not limited to the nearby region

were not limited to the nearby region

were not limited to the nearby region but also spread throughout Europe and in

but also spread throughout Europe and in

but also spread throughout Europe and in places as distant as the Nordic

places as distant as the Nordic

places as distant as the Nordic countries of Sweden Norway and United

countries of Sweden Norway and United

countries of Sweden Norway and United Kingdom the nearby city of prypiat where

Kingdom the nearby city of prypiat where

Kingdom the nearby city of prypiat where most of the workers at the power plant

most of the workers at the power plant

most of the workers at the power plant lived had to be evacuated the people

lived had to be evacuated the people

lived had to be evacuated the people were told 70,000 of them were told they

were told 70,000 of them were told they

were told 70,000 of them were told they would go back to their homes in a matter

would go back to their homes in a matter

would go back to their homes in a matter of days and instead would they were

of days and instead would they were

of days and instead would they were never allowed back so the city became

never allowed back so the city became

never allowed back so the city became the ghost town and through the years

the ghost town and through the years

the ghost town and through the years even with monumental efforts in cleaning

even with monumental efforts in cleaning

even with monumental efforts in cleaning up radiation still remained high

up radiation still remained high

up radiation still remained high up to this day so you see on on this in

up to this day so you see on on this in

up to this day so you see on on this in this area in this territory we have two

this area in this territory we have two

this area in this territory we have two forces on one side we have this

forces on one side we have this

forces on one side we have this poisonous dangerous contamination that

poisonous dangerous contamination that

poisonous dangerous contamination that is a potential threat to the wildlife

is a potential threat to the wildlife

is a potential threat to the wildlife that lived there because radiation can

that lived there because radiation can

that lived there because radiation can cause mutations which in turn can cause

cause mutations which in turn can cause

cause mutations which in turn can cause diseases like cancer but on the other

diseases like cancer but on the other

diseases like cancer but on the other side the fact that people left breathe

side the fact that people left breathe

side the fact that people left breathe space for wildlife we can be noisy and

space for wildlife we can be noisy and

space for wildlife we can be noisy and wide-leg doesn’t love us so these two

wide-leg doesn’t love us so these two

wide-leg doesn’t love us so these two opposite forces in the mind of the

opposite forces in the mind of the

opposite forces in the mind of the people interested with a disaster

people interested with a disaster

people interested with a disaster created two opposite scenarios on one

created two opposite scenarios on one

created two opposite scenarios on one side out of fear and inspire perhaps

side out of fear and inspire perhaps

side out of fear and inspire perhaps that’s signed by science fiction in the

that’s signed by science fiction in the

that’s signed by science fiction in the 50s you have this idea the giant master

50s you have this idea the giant master

50s you have this idea the giant master will come out of Chernobyl with an

will come out of Chernobyl with an

will come out of Chernobyl with an appetite for women in cocktail dresses

and on the other side you have instead

and on the other side you have instead that we this almost romantic idea that

that we this almost romantic idea that

that we this almost romantic idea that with humans out of the picture why the

with humans out of the picture why the

with humans out of the picture why the life at stake over has taken over the

life at stake over has taken over the

life at stake over has taken over the entire territory and Chernobyl has

entire territory and Chernobyl has

entire territory and Chernobyl has become a wildlife refuge so the truth is

become a wildlife refuge so the truth is

become a wildlife refuge so the truth is probably somewhere in between but

probably somewhere in between but

probably somewhere in between but science doesn’t just rely on intuition

science doesn’t just rely on intuition

science doesn’t just rely on intuition it relies requires measurements so

it relies requires measurements so

it relies requires measurements so through the years together with my

through the years together with my

through the years together with my collaborators I went several times to

collaborators I went several times to

collaborators I went several times to the Chernobyl exclusion zones where I

the Chernobyl exclusion zones where I

the Chernobyl exclusion zones where I focus my research on birds we capture

focus my research on birds we capture

focus my research on birds we capture hundreds of birds from dozens of

hundreds of birds from dozens of

hundreds of birds from dozens of different species and we inspected them

different species and we inspected them

different species and we inspected them we measured them

we measured them

we measured them we collected small amounts of blood to

we collected small amounts of blood to

we collected small amounts of blood to do genetic analysis in the lab and then

do genetic analysis in the lab and then

do genetic analysis in the lab and then we let them go we roamed the landscape

we let them go we roamed the landscape

we let them go we roamed the landscape that varied in contamination levels

that varied in contamination levels

that varied in contamination levels thousands of times what you see here is

thousands of times what you see here is

thousands of times what you see here is a counter that is measuring 13 million

a counter that is measuring 13 million

a counter that is measuring 13 million per hour which is again mode

per hour which is again mode

per hour which is again mode thousand time what will be normal what

thousand time what will be normal what

thousand time what will be normal what will be normal is more like 0.01 we also

will be normal is more like 0.01 we also

will be normal is more like 0.01 we also visited the famous red forest this place

visited the famous red forest this place

visited the famous red forest this place where the pine trees in the wake of the

where the pine trees in the wake of the

where the pine trees in the wake of the accident turned red and died and can be

accident turned red and died and can be

accident turned red and died and can be still seen on the ground partially the

still seen on the ground partially the

still seen on the ground partially the only partially decomposed so these are

only partially decomposed so these are

only partially decomposed so these are dangerous places where you have to wear

dangerous places where you have to wear

dangerous places where you have to wear masks and hazmat suit and you have to be

masks and hazmat suit and you have to be

masks and hazmat suit and you have to be efficient and there’s no time to fool

efficient and there’s no time to fool

efficient and there’s no time to fool around or maybe just briefly some of our

around or maybe just briefly some of our

around or maybe just briefly some of our observation in these birds were striking

observation in these birds were striking

observation in these birds were striking we saw that birds in more radioactive

we saw that birds in more radioactive

we saw that birds in more radioactive areas at smaller brains than birds from

areas at smaller brains than birds from

areas at smaller brains than birds from cleaner areas and this difference was

cleaner areas and this difference was

cleaner areas and this difference was small corresponding to about 4% in their

small corresponding to about 4% in their

small corresponding to about 4% in their brain size but in nature small

brain size but in nature small

brain size but in nature small differences in brain size might make the

differences in brain size might make the

differences in brain size might make the birds not so smart not so able to

birds not so smart not so able to

birds not so smart not so able to remember how they do their things and in

remember how they do their things and in

remember how they do their things and in fact when we compare the younger birds

fact when we compare the younger birds

fact when we compare the younger birds with the older ones we found that the

with the older ones we found that the

with the older ones we found that the older ones tended to have a slightly

older ones tended to have a slightly

older ones tended to have a slightly bigger brain that the younger ones an

bigger brain that the younger ones an

bigger brain that the younger ones an indication that only the ones with

indication that only the ones with

indication that only the ones with bigger brains tended to survive to older

bigger brains tended to survive to older

bigger brains tended to survive to older age we also observed when we expected

age we also observed when we expected

age we also observed when we expected that when inspected their plumage we

that when inspected their plumage we

that when inspected their plumage we also observed that strange feathers

also observed that strange feathers

also observed that strange feathers strange white feathers were found in

strange white feathers were found in

strange white feathers were found in some plumage patches that were of other

some plumage patches that were of other

some plumage patches that were of other colors and we found other malformations

colors and we found other malformations

colors and we found other malformations under beaks and toes and even some

under beaks and toes and even some

under beaks and toes and even some strange tumor like formations that some

strange tumor like formations that some

strange tumor like formations that some of them had never been observed in any

of them had never been observed in any

of them had never been observed in any other European population when we

other European population when we

other European population when we analyzed their DNA in the lab we also

analyzed their DNA in the lab we also

analyzed their DNA in the lab we also found that

found that

found that in some birds at higher levels of

in some birds at higher levels of

in some birds at higher levels of radiation damage to their DNA was also

radiation damage to their DNA was also

radiation damage to their DNA was also higher this very important molecule of

higher this very important molecule of

higher this very important molecule of life was damaged by the effects of

life was damaged by the effects of

life was damaged by the effects of radiation but this was not true for all

radiation but this was not true for all

radiation but this was not true for all the species of birds in some of them we

the species of birds in some of them we

the species of birds in some of them we found the opposite DNA damage was lower

found the opposite DNA damage was lower

found the opposite DNA damage was lower at higher levels of radiation rather

at higher levels of radiation rather

at higher levels of radiation rather than higher and this was a very striking

than higher and this was a very striking

than higher and this was a very striking discovery you see we have two different

discovery you see we have two different

discovery you see we have two different bird species and one as adapted has

bird species and one as adapted has

bird species and one as adapted has become capable of handling radiation

become capable of handling radiation

become capable of handling radiation while the other is and so ourselves

while the other is and so ourselves

while the other is and so ourselves perhaps we can learn from these pieces

perhaps we can learn from these pieces

perhaps we can learn from these pieces that are now capable of handling

that are now capable of handling

that are now capable of handling radiation how to end the radiation

radiation how to end the radiation

radiation how to end the radiation exposure ourselves when we’re exposed to

exposure ourselves when we’re exposed to

exposure ourselves when we’re exposed to it during using medical devices or

it during using medical devices or

it during using medical devices or through radiation therapy or during

through radiation therapy or during

through radiation therapy or during space exploration and so you see science

space exploration and so you see science

space exploration and so you see science can help us explore a territory and

can help us explore a territory and

can help us explore a territory and chart it not only when it comes to its

chart it not only when it comes to its

chart it not only when it comes to its physical characteristics but also when

physical characteristics but also when

physical characteristics but also when it comes to the organisms and you know

it comes to the organisms and you know

it comes to the organisms and you know birds are beautiful I mean I love birds

birds are beautiful I mean I love birds

birds are beautiful I mean I love birds birds are awesome they sing they they’re

birds are awesome they sing they they’re

birds are awesome they sing they they’re colorful they fly of course but they’re

colorful they fly of course but they’re

colorful they fly of course but they’re also important indicators from the ones

also important indicators from the ones

also important indicators from the ones that handle an environmental change we

that handle an environmental change we

that handle an environmental change we can learn how to handle it ourselves and

can learn how to handle it ourselves and

can learn how to handle it ourselves and from the ones that instead are more

from the ones that instead are more

from the ones that instead are more impacted are more sensitive we can we

impacted are more sensitive we can we

impacted are more sensitive we can we can use them as sentinels to prevent

can use them as sentinels to prevent

can use them as sentinels to prevent these effects on the environment to

these effects on the environment to

these effects on the environment to spread and affect all the other

spread and affect all the other

spread and affect all the other interconnected organisms and so while it

interconnected organisms and so while it

interconnected organisms and so while it might seem that the word is an entirely

might seem that the word is an entirely

might seem that the word is an entirely charted place we can use science to

charted place we can use science to

charted place we can use science to chart it discover it in more detail

chart it discover it in more detail

chart it discover it in more detail uncovering its fragility but also

uncovering its fragility but also

uncovering its fragility but also resiliency and in the end preserve it

resiliency and in the end preserve it

resiliency and in the end preserve it thank