The Myth That Cockroaches Survive Nukes Revealed

The myth that cockroaches can survive nukes was uncovered after a Mythbusters test. During the blast, 30 species of cockroaches were exposed to radiation. While some species may survive, others would not. Cockroaches’ radiation resistance depends on the size of the explosion and the distance from ground zero.

A cockroach’s weight of about two pounds is small in comparison to the 63,000-petajoule force of a nuclear bomb. The two-pound cockroach is able to survive buildings that collapse after a nuclear explosion. They also survive the radiation fallout that results from the detonation.

A nuclear blast would cause massive destruction to most of life on earth. It would kill mammals first, followed by all other life. Roaches would survive the blast but have a slim chance of surviving. They would be unable to reproduce, and would succumb to radiation exposure and a lack of food and water.

Cockroaches can live without a head for up to a week. They do so because they can breathe through holes in various body segments. They do not require a mouth or head to survive. In addition, cockroaches can survive a BLAST WAVE, which causes injuries and death. RADIATION can also damage cells and structures miles away.

However, cockroaches cannot withstand the high levels of radiation that humans can survive. Humans are not immune to gamma rays, so roaches are not immune to radiation. But they would fare better than humans in radiation situations. In Hiroshima and Nagasaki, atomic bombs released around 1,000 rads, which would kill humans in ten minutes. Cockroaches can survive exposure to 10 times that amount without any ill effects.