Expertise and Rutherford's ability in constructing and imagining experimental equipment that is fine were critical to another job that would prove to be his most significant contribution. Following his research Rutherford started to examine the effect of radiation on the conductivity from uranium. During this work Tracy Mcgrady Jersey , Lord Rutherford discovered that there were two types of radiation, which he called ss rays and a. These could be differentiated by their capacity to penetrate substances: a thin piece of paper would not be passed through by a rays; ss radiation could penetrate thin sheets and was strong.