MadSci Network: Medicine
Query:

Re: what happens if a person is exposed to cosmic radiation?

Date: Wed Jan 4 12:20:45 2006
Posted By: Peter Grivins, Staff, Radiation and Chemical Safety, Michigan State University
Area of science: Medicine
ID: 1136354732.Me
Message:

Manuel,

What happens if a person is exposed to cosmic radiation? Well, the same thing that happens if a person is exposed to x-rays or gamma rays here on Earth. For most cases of exposure, not much will really occur. Changes in cell structure are usually not noticeable without significant doses of radiation. And, once we get to that point we usually see people getting very sick, but not developing any kind of super powers. In long term exposure studies (over periods of years) of those people living near sites of heavy contamination we do tend to see mutations. These mutations usually take the form of a disease process.

We have to keep in mind that a lot of the science you see presented in Hollywood movies is not science at all, or it is based on very shaky reasoning. Take Spider-Man, for example. There are no properties of radioactive materials that would make a spider able to transfer his best qualities to a human being, just from a bite. If you were to be bitten by a radioactive spider, you would receive a standard bite that was probably just a bit itchy, but don’t think you’re going to be sticking to a wall any time soon!

However, Hollywood doesn’t let facts get in the way of a good story.


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