Inside the world’s most powerful particle accelerators, enormous amounts of energy are used to explore the deepest secrets of the universe.
But new research suggests that some of the energy usually treated as waste could be turned into something far more practical: materials that help diagnose and treat cancer.
Scientists at the University of York have discovered that intense radiation captured in part of a particle accelerator, known as a “beam dump,” can be used to produce valuable medical isotopes.
These isotopes are special forms of chemical elements that are used in cancer imaging and targeted therapies.
Their findings were published in the journal Physical Review C.
In a typical experiment, high-energy photons, or light particles, are fired through an accelerator to study fundamental physics.
Once these photons have completed their main job, they are absorbed in thick protective structures called beam dumps, where their remaining energy is safely dispersed. Until now, this leftover energy was simply considered unavoidable waste.
The York research team found a way to put those wasted photons to work for a second time.
Without disrupting the accelerator’s main scientific purpose, the extra energy can be used to produce copper-67, a rare and powerful isotope that is especially useful in cancer treatment and diagnosis.
Dr. Mamad Eslami, a nuclear physicist at the University of York, explained that copper-67 is highly valuable because it can play two roles.
It releases radiation that can destroy cancer cells, and at the same time it emits signals that allow doctors to track how treatments are working inside the body. This makes it especially promising for conditions such as prostate cancer and childhood cancers like neuroblastoma.
Right now, the global supply of copper-67 is very limited. Producing it is difficult and expensive, and only a few facilities in the world can make it. As a result, its use in hospitals and clinical trials is often restricted.
The new method could change that by making use of existing particle accelerators that already run for long periods of time.
Because many major accelerators operate continuously for weeks or months, useful amounts of copper-67 could be produced slowly and steadily in the background, alongside regular physics experiments.
This means no extra beam time would be needed and no scientific research would have to be paused. In effect, a single machine could serve two purposes: unlocking the mysteries of the universe and supporting life-saving medical care.
The researchers believe that this approach could easily be adapted to other accelerator facilities around the world. The next step will be to work with large research centers and medical partners to test the idea on a larger scale and determine whether it can produce enough material for real-world clinical use.
If successful, this technique could lower costs, increase availability, and open new doors for cancer treatment. What was once seen as discarded energy may soon become a powerful new ally in the fight against one of the world’s deadliest diseases.
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