How come radioactivity causes deformitites?

compboyo

compboyo

compboyo

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I was reading the Chernobyl thread and it got me thinking.

How come nuclear radioactivity can deform living beings? Does it deform trees and grass and other such things?

It also effects unborn children etc...?

But in a general and a chemical/biological level can anyone explain what happens?

Cheers
 
Ok now I get that..So we all have DNA and the radioactivity effects the DNA..

But how is this? Its like a ray off light (but x ray etc...a laser we cant see...eg..the radioactive waves, gamma, alpha, beta waves?). These waves pass into the body and they destroy or change our cells/DNA?

But why and how? Its weird....We can pick up sound waves and it does not harm. I wonder what exactly causes radioactive waves to cause damage. Its really weird but fascinating
 
checjb said:
The exact chemistry and physics is quite complex but is fascinating if you care to read up on it. In essence, it has to do with the amount of energy that is transferred by the lightwave/particle to the atoms in the DNA strand. Sound is usually very low energy so has no impact. Light, esp UV, can be high energy though, hence skin cancers.
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right so radioactive waves have more energy in them. And this energy passes through your skin and penetrates into your organs etc..and this energy then reacts with your body particles and DNA causing damage and changing them?

Monserrat said:
I'm not sure how the light / wavelength affects cells, but I know for sure that sound can kill if it is loud enough. P.S. post 2000 :-)
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Yes if its real loud your head can literally explode :p
 
Dunno why you'd think Id be trolling? The Stalker/cherynobl threads got me thinking?

But yeh maybe google search genetic mutations form radiation is a good idea
 
Art said:
Deinococcus radiodurans is a very interesting radiation-resistant microorganism, and going by the data on it's wiki page, you'd need to be stuck under it for about 5,000 times the normal exposure length before you'd get a lethal dose.

A shorter time would probably still have nasty side effects though.

EDIT: Those numbers are for chest X-ray machines. Aside from that, take a look at the acute radiation poisoning page.
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So if I smother my body with Deinococcus radiodurans I will be protected against RADS? lol
 
dont we get radiated by our tv and pc etc every day

I sit right next to a 40 incher lol

But I think CRT was much worse than LCD for emitting radaiton?
 
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