The most common way to measure radiation is with a gas filled detector [local]. The next is with a sodium iodide detector. [local] Flashes in the NaI crystal, called scintillations, are counted using electronic photomultiplier tubes.

To obtain evidence for cosmic radiation, a cloud chamber.[local] may be used. Bubble chambers have been used to discover many events that serve as the basis for today's understanding of nuclear structure.

For reasons of personnel safety, passive systems for measuring radiation are commonly used. These include both film badges and dosimeters. See an sample safety program [local].