The list of poisons in the world is long, but there is one that quietly causes death: Polonium-210, a radioactive element whose potency is probably beyond human comprehension. Scientists claim that just one gram of it can kill thousands of people in the blink of an eye. That is why it is called the most dangerous, most invisible and most merciless poison on earth.
Who called it the most dangerous?
The story of polonium-210 is full of dangers, radiation, and mysteries. Its discovery began in 1898, when scientist Marie Curie told the world for the first time that an element hidden in the earth’s crust could provide both energy and death. Marie Curie, who won the Nobel Prize for Radioactivity, initially named it Radium-F, but after understanding its nature and potential, it was later renamed Polonium. His discovery changed the world of science, but its true horrors came to light in the years to come.
impossible to trace
Polonium-210 is like an internal bomb for the human body. As soon as it enters the body, it immediately starts destroying DNA, blood, immune system and vital organs. The scariest thing about it is that it emits alpha radiation, which is almost impossible to detect from outside. This means that the body it infects does not even realize that it is dead before it dies.
Who was its first victim?
Even its testing is considered almost impossible in India. Only a few countries have the high-tech technology needed to identify radioactive particles in bodies or samples, so this poison could easily escape any testing process. Marie Curie’s daughter, Irene Juliette Curie, became the first major victim of this toxicity. During research, a small particle of polonium entered his body and death surrounded him in the blink of an eye. After this, the fear of this poison gradually started coming to the fore in front of the world.
The most mysterious case was the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Years later, his grave was exhumed, samples were taken, and upon analysis, scientists found that his body contained radioactive particles of polonium-210. The mystery of how such a powerful and rare substance entered his body is still unsolved.
How deadly is this poison?
How dangerous Polonium-210 is can be gauged from the fact that when it is mixed in food, water or any liquid, it does not leave any trace of its taste, smell or color. This means that it is considered the world’s most perfect, invisible killer. Those who consider cyanide a quick way to death understand the real danger as soon as they hear the name polonium-210.
