Exploring the Dangers of Radiation in Minecraft
Nuclear Radiation Mod
A physics-focused radiation simulator for Minecraft. Utilizes actual isotopes, real decay processes, and genuine units. Experience radioactivity that mirrors the behavior found in the real world—no vague “rads” scale here. Note: This mod is currently under development.
If you’ve ever wished for a Minecraft experience that takes nuclear materials seriously, where discarded pieces of spent fuel present an authentic threat, where lead and concrete provide genuine protection, and iodine pills become essential after exposure—look no further. This is the mod for you.
What Sets This Mod Apart
Unlike many radiation mods that rely on a simplified “rad” number, Nuclear Radiation accurately models a comprehensive process:
Source activity (Bq) → radiation field → shielding attenuation → biological dose (Sv)
Each component utilizes accurate physical units and replicates real-world behavior:
- Becquerel (Bq) – indicates the activity of a source (decays per second)
- Gray (Gy) – measures absorbed dose, vital for shielding calculations
- Sievert (Sv) – represents the biological dose you accumulate (both live rate and lifetime total)
Different radiation types exhibit distinct behaviors and quality factors:
- Alpha – lethal at close range, can be stopped by most materials (Q=20)
- Beta – has a moderate range (Q=1)
- Gamma / X-ray – highly penetrating; requires dense shielding (Q=1)
- Neutron – also penetrating, with significant effects (Q≈10)
Mod Features
Realistic Radiation Sources
- Radioactive blocks release radiation into the environment.
- Dropped stacks of radioactive items create hazardous spots on the ground.
- Radioactive liquids contribute to the irradiation of their surroundings.
- Containers filled with radioactive materials emit radiation (sealed containers prevent contamination spread).
- The contamination levels of soil, air, and water track over time within chunks.
Authentic Decay Behavior
- Includes a variety of isotopes: U-238, U-235, Pu-239, Cs-137, I-131, Sr-90, Y-90, Co-60, Cf-252.
- Isotopes undergo decay following their actual half-lives.
- Decay chains feature offspring products (e.g., Pu-239 decays into U-235; Sr-90 decays into Y-90).
- Short-lived isotopes decay quickly, while long-lived ones remain hazardous for extended periods.
Effective Shielding
- Materials like stone, iron, gold, water, obsidian, and netherite can effectively block radiation.
- Denser items provide superior protection—with proper Beer–Lambert attenuation applied, tracking block-by-block between source and player.
- Different materials diminish X-ray and neutron radiation by varying amounts.
- Armor provides protection—complete sets of iron, gold, or netherite reduce the dosage taken, configurable for each radiation type.
Exposure Mechanics
- External dose – influenced by the radiation field around you.
- Inventory dose – carrying radioactive items in your hotbar, offhand, or pockets can expose you; armor slots offer additional shielding.
- Internal dose – caused by ingesting or inhaling isotopes; it remains within your system.
- Background radiation varies by dimension and biome.
Tools at Your Disposal
- Geiger Counter – measures live activity (Bq) in your vicinity; the frequency of clicks increases as radiation levels rise.
- Dosimeter – a personal dose monitor that displays total Sv, current Sv/h, and a breakdown of sources of exposure, all available on-screen.
Medical Countermeasures
Surviving exposure is possible with appropriate treatment:
- Iodine Pill – prevents absorption of I-131 into your body.
- Prussian Blue – aids in eliminating Cesium-137.
- Anti-Rad Injection – a strong emergency detoxification.
- Radaway – progressively reduces contamination over time.
- Rad-Protection Potion – provides general immunity to radiation exposure.
Attention, Map Makers and Modpack Creators
- Creative Radiation Source block – a fully customizable emitter that can adjust outputs for Alpha, Beta, X-Ray, and Neutron radiation.
- Data-Driven – enables assignment of radioactivity to any item, block, or fluid (your own or from other mods) using datapack JSON, tags, or per-stack data.
- Armor shielding values can also be easily adjusted via datapacks.
- Highly configurable options include simulation intervals, dose thresholds, recovery rates, contamination spread, and background radiation levels.
Recipe Viewer Compatibility
Complete integration with JEI and EMI, featuring custom information pages:
- Isotope Stats – includes half-life, radiation composition, quality factors, and decay products.
- Radioactive Items – display current hazard and intensity.
- Decay Graph – visual representation of decay chains.
- Armor Protection Values – shielding ratings for each piece of armor.
Future Enhancements
- Unified Radiation Framework – a comprehensive radiation system that incorporates mechanics from other mods (like Mekanism) into a single physics-driven structure, ensuring that all radioactive items are equally hazardous, measured in the same Bq/Sv, blocked by the identical shielding, and treated with the same medicines. Say goodbye to competing and incompatible “rad” scales.
Getting Started with the Mod
- Obtain or craft a Geiger Counter and a Dosimeter from the Tools & Utilities creative tab.
- Search for radioactive sources—your Geiger counter will alert you when you’re nearby.
- Monitor your Dosimeter to keep total Sv levels low.
- Position dense blocks or maximize distance between you and the radiation source.
- Equip protective armor when dealing with hot materials.
- Always carry iodine pills and Radaway for emergencies.
Requirements for Installation
- Minecraft version 1.21.1
- NeoForge version 21.1.230+
- Java 21
Warning: This mod is in active development, and mechanics/balance may evolve with updates. Feedback and bug reports are greatly appreciated.
Performance Optimization
This mod is engineered to operate efficiently on dedicated servers. The simulation runs on a separate background thread, utilizing a spatial radiation-field cache that optimizes performance based on entities rather than a combination of entities × sources. It incorporates a hard radius cutoff for sources and controls simulation intervals distinctly for worlds and entities, preventing off-thread world access.
Authentic units. Real decay. Genuine consequences. License: MIT
