Cobalt‑60 explained: The science behind precise brain radiosurgery

From a star’s explosion to life-changing brain treatment. In this video, we explain how the isotope Cobalt-60 helps clinicians perform precise radiosurgery for conditions in the brain. You’ll see how a very small amount (~20 g) of Cobalt-60 inside a Leksell Gamma Knife can deliver carefully shaped radiation, compared with the ~14 kg of Cobalt often used in a single electric car battery – an eye-opening contrast about cobalt’s role in healthcare vs everyday tech. We’ll break down the science simply and explain how extreme accuracy is achieved for brain radiosurgery.