Welcome to Radium Quest!

This Substack tells the story of my quest for radioactive antiques. Join me here to see my latest radioactive finds, read the stories behind the objects, and discover collecting tips.

We live in a world filled with “spicy” history. For a huge chunk of the 20th century, we put radioactive material in everything. We put Uranium-238 in dinner plates to make them orange; we put Radium-226 in clocks to make them glow in the dark; we even put Thorium in camera lenses.

Those manufacturers are gone or have changed their ways, but the items remain. The atoms in these objects are still decaying, firing off alpha and beta particles right there on the shelf of your local antique shop. My goal is to find them, measure them, and tell their stories, safely.

Why subscribe?

I’m not just posting photos of old clocks. I’m digging into the atomic science and the sheer weirdness of the nuclear age.

Here is what we explore:

• The physics: Why does Uranium Glass actually glow? What is the difference between fluorescence (UV glow) and radioluminescence (self-glow)? We break down the difference between “dangerous” and “detectable.”

• The hunt: Come with me on field trips to antique fairs and museums. Watch me wave a detector over a pile of “junk” to find the hidden gems that are ionizing the air around them.

• The history: We explore the stories behind vintage items and antiques, uncovering their secrets from 200 years to the present day.

On safety: Respect radioactivity. While I collect radioactive items, I focus heavily on safety, shielding, and proper handling. This Substack is about curiosity, not recklessness.

Subscribe

Who am I?

I’m Michael White. I’m an explorer of the “Atomic Age” leftovers.

I realised that history isn’t just written in books, it’s radiating from the objects our ancestors left behind. I want to document these artifacts before they disappear, preserving their stories and explaining the fascinating science that makes them tick (literally).

Ready to join the hunt?

Whether you are a student fascinated by nuclear physics, a collector, or just someone who wants to see what happens when you shine a UV light on 100-year-old glass, there’s a spot for you here.