What exactly is radiation, and how can it affect you?

I know what radiation is, waves like Gamma and beta, energy etc., but what exactly is it? (such as the radiation given off by Uranium, etc.) and how would it affect you if you were in a situation like the search and rescue team at the Sl-1 accident in Idaho in 1961? just super curious =DWhat exactly is radiation, and how can it affect you?
Radiation is found in 3 forms

Alpha: Helium atoms. The most dangerous, but easiest to stop. A paper stops most A-particles.
Beta: Electrons. The middle. Somewhat dangerous but also stopped quite simply. A wooden board is enough.
Gamma: Pure energy. Very difficult to stop, but also not very harmful unless in extreme amounts.

The thing that Alpha and Beta rays do is that they go into your body and shatter your DNA structure, leading to extreme amounts Cancer or/and burn damage.

I do not know the exact effect of Gammarays on the body.
Radiation is the movement of heat energy from the sun. It is a process where the radiation from the sun (infra-red rays) is absorbed or reflected by objects.

There are 3 ways in which heat can move: conduction, convection and radiation.



No one is immune to radiation. In the Japanese Tsunami, it destroyed nuclear power plants that gave off radiation. People living in a 20km radius of this area had to move because they could get radiation poisoning. This could result in death after a few hours of being poisoned. Symptoms include vomiting, dizziness, weakness and other signs of losing life.What exactly is radiation, and how can it affect you?
" In general, radiation is a process where energy emitted by one body travels in a straight line through a medium or through space. Radiation comes from the sun, nuclear reactors, microwave ovens, radio antennas, X-ray machines, and power lines, to name a few. "
For more of an explanation read the rest of this web page.....
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles鈥?/a>

Note in the top right of the web page, there is also a click-on to read about the effects
radiation can have on humans.
i'm not sure to it's validity, but from what i can understand, radiation occurs as the nucleus of and atom becomes unstable. As it does it starts losing particles of harmful energy which is what we call radiation.What exactly is radiation, and how can it affect you?
Gamma radiation can cause genetic mutations which lead to cancer.