radiolysis
noun
ra·di·ol·y·sis
ˌrā-dē-ˈä-lə-səs 
: chemical decomposition by the action of radiation
Examples of radiolysis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This can happen as a result of a chemical reaction between water and iron-rich rocks, or by radiolysis, the splitting of water molecules by radiation into hydrogen and oxygen.
—
Marta Abbà, WIRED, 20 Aug. 2024
Cassini's data show that molecular oxygen (O2) forms inside the moon's surface ice when water molecules (H2O) are split by energetic ions, a process known as radiolysis.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 29 Nov. 2010
One example is radiolysis, in which subatomic particles naturally emitted by radioactive rocks such as granite cause certain molecules to break apart, releasing hydrogen.
—WIRED, 24 Nov. 2022
Now a study published in Astrobiology contends that radiolysis could have powered microbial life in the Martian subsurface.
—Nikk Ogasa, Scientific American, 19 July 2021
Scientists have previously studied Mars radiolysis, but this marks the first estimate using Martian rocks to quantify the planet’s subsurface habitability.
—Nikk Ogasa, Scientific American, 19 July 2021
Sherwood Lollar, Lin, Onstott and their collaborators proposed in 2006 that the microbial communities under South Africa and Canada derived the energy for their survival from hydrogen produced through radiolysis.
—Quanta Magazine, 31 May 2021
That process, water radiolysis, was first observed in Marie Curie’s laboratory at the beginning of the 20th century, when researchers realized that solutions of radium salts generated bubbles of hydrogen and oxygen.
—Quanta Magazine, 31 May 2021
So began their long quest to unpack how important radiolysis might be to life in natural settings.
—Quanta Magazine, 31 May 2021
Marta Abbà, WIRED, 20 Aug. 2024
Cassini's data show that molecular oxygen (O2) forms inside the moon's surface ice when water molecules (H2O) are split by energetic ions, a process known as radiolysis.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 29 Nov. 2010
One example is radiolysis, in which subatomic particles naturally emitted by radioactive rocks such as granite cause certain molecules to break apart, releasing hydrogen.
—WIRED, 24 Nov. 2022
Now a study published in Astrobiology contends that radiolysis could have powered microbial life in the Martian subsurface.
—Nikk Ogasa, Scientific American, 19 July 2021
Scientists have previously studied Mars radiolysis, but this marks the first estimate using Martian rocks to quantify the planet’s subsurface habitability.
—Nikk Ogasa, Scientific American, 19 July 2021
Sherwood Lollar, Lin, Onstott and their collaborators proposed in 2006 that the microbial communities under South Africa and Canada derived the energy for their survival from hydrogen produced through radiolysis.
—Quanta Magazine, 31 May 2021
That process, water radiolysis, was first observed in Marie Curie’s laboratory at the beginning of the 20th century, when researchers realized that solutions of radium salts generated bubbles of hydrogen and oxygen.
—Quanta Magazine, 31 May 2021
So began their long quest to unpack how important radiolysis might be to life in natural settings.
—Quanta Magazine, 31 May 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'radiolysis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Radiolysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/radiolysis. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
radiolysis
noun
ra·di·ol·y·sis
ˌrād-ē-ˈäl-ə-səs
plural radiolyses
-ˌsēz
: chemical decomposition by the action of radiation compare photolysis
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