What you’re watching here is a plutonium-238 sphere. Usually, plutonium is not red, it is the usual metal color. However, isotope 238 undergoes a natural decay that releases enough thermal energy to make it bright and red in colour. Plutonium 238 decays with a half-life of about 88 years. It means that one kilo of this isotope, after irradiating continuously for 88 years, will have transformed half of its mass into other elements, while the other half will continue its irradiation work, reducing to 250 grams after another 88 years, and so on.
The heat generated during the decay of plutonium-238 can be used in propulsion or energy generation systems in space systems. Contrary to popular belief, the radiation emitted is not dangerous to health. The emitted particles are exclusively alpha-type (actually helium ions) that fail to penetrate human skin. On the other hand, if swallowed or inhaled, it is deadly.
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