How Come Cockroaches Can Survive Nuclear Explosions?
WouterCockroaches can survive radiation levels that would kill humans, but they cannot survive the high temperatures of a nuclear explosion. The heat emitted by a nuclear explosion would kill an adult human. However, cockroaches’ cells divide much more slowly than those of humans, making them better able to endure high radiation levels. The radiation they are exposed to also depends on their size and distance from ground zero.
Cockroaches have been known to survive high-level radiation levels, and a recent study found that up to 20% of cockroaches were able to survive. In fact, cockroaches were found living 1000 feet from the Hiroshima atom bomb, which is far higher than what a human can survive. Furthermore, cockroaches can live for about a month without food, and even two weeks with their heads cut off.
Another study conducted by the Discovery Channel demonstrates how long cockroaches can survive nuclear radiation. Scientists tested a group of German cockroaches by exposing them to different levels of radiation. The first level involved exposure to 1,000 radon units (rads), which is the equivalent of killing a human in ten minutes. Following this, the team tested the same animals with ten thousand and one hundred thousand rads exposures.
Cockroaches have a reputation as the ultimate survivors. In fact, scientists believe that they have lived on the planet for 100 times longer than humans. This is a testament to their hardiness and resilience. The fact that they can survive without their heads makes them one of the most unlikely of creatures to be affected by a nuclear war.
