Can a Cockroach Survive Nuclear Blasts?
WouterA recent test conducted by MythBusters has shed some light on the question, “Can a cockroach survive nuclear blasts?” The cockroaches in the test were German cockroaches, which are very common in our homes. In the lab, they were exposed to three doses of the radioactive metal Cobalt-60. This metal is very high in radiation, and contains about 10,000 rads of gamma rays. This is not enough to kill a human, but enough to kill a cockroach instantly.
Although the cockroach is unable to survive nuclear explosions, it does have some remarkable abilities. Scientists are studying these abilities and developing robotic rescue robots that can find survivors in confined spaces. These robots could potentially help people and animals in times of manmade and natural disasters. Despite these impressive capabilities, a cockroach will not inherit the earth. Although the cockroach can survive nuclear bombings, it won’t survive a nuclear explosion.
While a cockroach cannot survive nuclear explosions, it can survive high radiation exposure and a slower cell cycle. But the heat from a nuclear explosion is much more than 50 Celcius. Nevertheless, the roaches’ cell division process is much slower than that of humans, which means they are more prone to radiation damage. Despite these facts, a cockroach’s survival will likely be dependent on how close the blast is to its environment.
A German cockroach can survive a one thousand rems of cobalt 60, a level of radiation that can kill humans within ten minutes. Even after a month of exposure, half of the sample remained alive. A normal cockroach lifespan is six to nine months, which is well below the radiation exposure levels considered lethal.
