RADIATION DETECTORS
Geiger Counter
A Geiger counter consists of a tube filed with a gas such as argon or helium at reduced pressure. When radiation enters the tube through a thin window at one end,  it removes electrons from the atoms of the gas. The gas atoms become positively charged ions. The electrons move through the positively charged ions wire in the tube, setting up an electric current. The current, which is amplified and fed into a reordering or counting device, produces a flashing light and a clicking sound. The number of flashes and clicks per unit of time indicates the strength of radiation. A counter attached to the wire is able to measure the amount of radioactivity by measuring the amount of current.

Spiderwort detects radiation that conventional instruments don't.
Spiderwort plant


Cloud Chamber
A Cloud chamber contains evaporated alcohol. Dry ice surrounding the chamber causes the alcohol vapor to condense. When a radioactive substance is put inside the chamber, droplets of alcohol condense around the radioactive particles. The droplets formed around the particles of radiation in a cloud chamber leave trail that shows up along the chamber lining. An alpha particle leaves a short  fat  trail,  while a beta particle leaves a long thin trail.

Bubble Chamber
The bubble chamber is similar in some ways to the cloud chamber, although its construction is more complex. A bubble chamber contains superheated liquids, in most cases hydrogen. A superheated liquid is hot enough to boil, but does not. Instead it remains in liquid phase.

Electroscope
An electroscope is a simple device that consists of a metal rod with two thin metal leaves at one end. If an electroscope is given a negative charge,  the metal leaves separate. In this condition, the electroscope can be used to detect radioactivity.

Radioactive substances remove electrons from molecules of air. As a result, the molecules of air become positively charged ions. When a radioactive substance is brought near a negatively charged electroscope, the air molecules that have become positively charged attract the negative charge on the leaves of the electroscope. The leaves discharged, or lose their charge and collapse.

Radon Detection kit.   The National Safety Council provides a simple radon testing kit for $9.95
National Safety Council
PO BOX 33435
Washington DC 20077-2854

Geiger Counters

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