as required , detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein ; however , it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the invention , which can be embodied in various forms . therefore , specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting , but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure and function . further , the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting ; but rather , to provide an understandable description of the invention . the terms “ a ” or “ an ”, as used herein , are defined as one or more than one . the term plurality , as used herein , is defined as two or more than two . the term another , as used herein , is defined as at least a second or more . the terms including and / or having , as used herein , are defined as comprising ( i . e ., open language ). the term coupled , as used herein , is defined as connected , although not necessarily directly , and not necessarily mechanically . the various embodiments of the present invention are advantageous provide many advantages over conventional radiation shielding systems . for example , the various embodiments of the present invention include a modular shielding system that is used to shield against radiation , nuclear and / or fissile materials , and / or systems that generate neutrons , gamma , beta , alpha , and or x - rays . the various embodiments enable enables the build - out of a shielding wall , multi - walled or multi - sided with ceiling or floor structure made out of individual interconnecting shielding modules . another advantage is that solid shielding material ( s ) are used that are configured so that each module can interconnect to another module on any of the six sides of the shielding module . yet another advantage is that at least some embodiments include hollowed shielding modules that can be filled with additional shielding material such as ( but not limited to ) boronated water . the modular shielding units allow for rapid deployment and scalability of a permanent or temporary shielding structure . the moderator structure can also be dismantled and relocated . the shield can also be designed to moderate neutrons to desired levels . according to one embodiment of the present invention , as shown in fig1 , moderator interconnection modules 102 , 104 herein referred to as “ interlocking shielding units ” ( isus ) are illustrated . these isus 102 , 104 can be connected together to create shielding structures for neutrons , gamma , beta , alpha and or x - rays . the isus 102 , 104 provide an ability to rapidly create a shielding structure for protection from radiation or fissile materials or systems that generate neutron , gamma , alpha beta , and / or x - rays . the isus 102 , 104 can also be used to create a moderator system for fast neutrons ; a re - locatable shielding or moderator system ; and / or a rapid deployment shielding or moderator system . in one embodiment , each isu 102 , 104 comprises a plurality of sides 106 , 108 , 110 , 112 , 114 , 116 . in the example of fig1 , the isus 102 , 104 comprise six sides ; however , any geometric configuration that allows the isus 102 , 104 to be interconnected is also applicable to the various embodiments of the present invention . in one embodiment , an isu 102 , 104 comprises one or more interconnecting members 118 , 120 that extend outward from the surface 122 of one or more sides 110 on which the members 118 , 120 are disposed ( fig1 shows only one side 110 comprising the interconnecting members 118 while fig3 shows interconnecting members 318 on a plurality of sides 306 , 310 ). each isu 102 , 104 , in one embodiment , also comprises recessed members 224 disposed one or more sides 206 , 208 , 210 , 212 , 214 , 216 of the isu , as shown in fig2 . these recessed areas 224 are configured to receive at least one interconnecting members 118 , 120 . once an interconnecting member 118 , 120 is inserted into a corresponding recessed area 224 the interconnecting member 118 , 120 is secured within the recessed area 224 . this allows for two or more isus 102 , 104 to be coupled together in a secure and stable configuration while still allowing the blocks to be decoupled from one another . it should be noted that all isus 102 , 104 are not required to comprise interconnecting members 118 , 120 or recessed areas 224 . for example , some isus 102 , 104 can be designated as base blocks or foundation blocks . therefore , these isus generally do not require recessed areas 224 since they are disposed on the bottom of the structure . these isus , however , include interconnecting members 118 , 120 to be inserted into the recessed areas 224 of the isus directly above or adjacent to the isu . additionally , the top most isu , in some instances , do not require interconnecting members 118 , 120 ( at least on the top surface ) since these isu are disposed at the top most portion of the shielding system . however , these top most isus can include interconnecting members 118 , 120 on the bottom 112 , and side surfaces 108 , 114 , 116 . it should also be noted that interconnecting members 118 , 120 and recessed areas 224 can be disposed on the same side of the isu . this configuration allows for an even more secure interconnection between isus . for example , the interconnecting members 118 of a first isu 102 are inserted into the recessed areas 224 of a second isu 104 while the interconnecting members 120 of the second isu 104 are inserted into the recessed areas 224 of the first isu 102 . the isus 102 , 104 , in one embodiment , are deployed to create a shield structure 400 , 500 of various configurations , as shown in fig4 and 5 . these radiation shields can be used to shield various radiation such as ( but not limited to ) neutron particles , gamma particles , beta particles , alpha particles , and x - rays . various nuclear , medical , scientific , etc . applications and devices can be shield from various radiation via the shield structure . as can be seen from fig5 , the shield is not limited to a single wall and can also include isus 102 , 104 stacked on top of each other and adjacent to each other . the isus 102 , 104 can be made to any size or shape such as ( but not limited to ) a rectangle . the isu 102 , 104 , in one embodiment , is constructed of a solid shielding material or can be made as a hollow unit that when interconnected creates an internal cavity to allow the addition of a liquid shield such as boronated water to be applied . it should be noted that in another embodiment , one or more sides 106 , 108 , 110 , 112 , 114 , 116 of two or more isus 102 , 104 can included a recessed portion that creates a hollow area when the isus 102 , 104 are interconnected . in other words , a hollow area is created between the two interconnected isus 102 , 104 . solid isus 102 , 104 can be used to form a shield structure for nuclear applications . each of the solid isus are interlocked together to form a solid shield structure . another embodiment uses hollow isu units with openings at each of the interconnecting blocks 102 , 104 . this configuration forms a shield housing for liquid shielding materials such as bromated water to fill the formed cavity . this is especially useful for rapid re - locatable shielding structures . another embodiment of uses the modular shielding structure as a neutron moderator to moderate the neutrons to a desired level based on the isu design . examples of shielding materials for neutron or fissile protection are typically materials that include low - z elements such as water , soil , concrete , and polyethylene . water can be combined with boron to increase effective shielding . one applicable material for the interlocking shielding unit is polyethylene , but other materials are applicable as well . one applicable added material to an isu with a cavity is boronated water , but other added materials are applicable as well . boron can be included as a neutron absorber in various materials . for example , borated graphite , a mixture of elemental boron and graphite can be used in fast - reactor shields . boral , consisting of boron carbide ( b 4 c ) and aluminum , and epoxy resins and resin - impregnated wood laminates incorporating boron can be used for local shielding purposes . boron can also be added to steel for shield structures to reduce secondary gamma ray production . examples of shielding materials for gamma ray protection are as follows . lead and other high - mass density materials are good shielding materials for gamma radiation . gamma radiation is the same type of radiation as x - rays ( called electromagnetic radiation ); it may differ significantly in energy from some x - rays , but the same kinds of materials effective against x - rays are also good for gamma rays . an important properties of a material for shielding against x - rays and gamma rays is its electron density , and high - mass density . materials such as lead have high electron densities . such materials are also effective against some common particulate radiations , such as alpha particles and beta particles , although these particles are much more easily stopped by materials than are x - rays or gamma rays , and much smaller thicknesses of the materials are generally required . although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed , those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention . the scope of the invention is not to be restricted , therefore , to the specific embodiments , and it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications , modifications , and embodiments within the scope of the present invention .