beta particle
"By analogy, you might say that a beta particle is like a subatomic bullet and an alpha particle is like a subatomic cannonball. In any event, most radioactive materials are classified as either alpha-emitters or beta-emitters. A few do not fall into either of these categories."
"A beta particle is like a rabbit running through a cornfield, in comparison an alpha particle is like a bulldozer going through the cornfield. Any isotope that emits alpha particles inside your body is extremely dangerous and much worse than the same number of beta particle atoms."
METAMIA is a free database of analogy and metaphor. Anyone can contribute or search. The subject matter can be anything. Science is popular, but poetry is encouraged. The goal is to integrate our fluid muses with the stark literalism of a relational database. Metamia is like a girdle for your muses, a cognitive girdle.