Do meteorites emit a high degree of radiation when they fall to Earth? Should precautions be taken when handling them?
Wade Carmen
Cleveland, Tennessee
On average, around 500 meteorites fall to Earth each year. Any radioactive elements contained in a meteorite are no more significant than in ordinary terrestrial rock. Although meteorites aren’t harmful to humans, we can actually be pretty harmful to them. Our hands are covered in oils and microbes, both of which can contaminate th