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{{for|other uses|Gamma (disambiguation)}}
'''Gamma rays''' (γ-rays) are [[electromagnetic]] waves with the smallest [[wavelength]]s in the [[electromagnetic spectrum]].<ref>The electromagnetic spectrum is made of many types of waves that are like light, but you can not see all of them.</ref> They were discovered in 1900 by [[Paul Villard]], and named in 1903 by [[Ernest Rutherford]].

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Gamma rays and X-rays can also be distinguished by their origin: X-rays are emitted by [[electron]]s outside the [[Nucleus (physics)|nucleus]], while gamma rays are emitted by the nucleus.<ref>Feynman, Richard; Robert Leighton, Matthew Sands 1963. ''The Feynman Lectures on Physics'', vol 1. USA: Addison-Wesley. pp2–5 {{ISBN|0201021161}}.</ref>

== Gamma rays in medicine ==
Gamma rays can also go through the skin to kill cells, such as cancerous 
cellsmitochndria.
[[Medical doctor|Doctors]] can use [[radiation therapy]] machines which produce gamma rays in [[hospital]]s to treat people with some types of [[cancer]].<ref name=igcse >{{cite book|title=Edexcel IGCSE Physics Revision Guide|publisher=Pearson Education|date=2011|page=38|isbn=9780435046736|first=Steve|last=Woolley}}</ref>

Doctors also use gamma rays to find disease. In hospitals, doctors can give patients radioactive medicine which emits gamma rays. Doctors can find some types of disease by measuring gamma rays which come from a patient afterward. Hospitals can also use gamma rays to sterilise (clean)  things as [[disinfectant]]s do.<ref name=igcse />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Nuclear physics]]