Duane Pearsall developed the first affordable home smoke detector. Ionization detectors use a tiny amount of Americium-241 to ionize the air; when smoke enters the chamber, it disrupts the flow of ions, triggering the alarm. This invention is credited with reducing home fire deaths by more than 50% in the countries where it is mandated. It is a prime example of a sophisticated nuclear technology being repurposed for a simple, life-saving consumer product.