Ionizing electromagnetic waves, usually harmful to most biological beings.
For the visible spectrum, use light; for ultraviolet light, use uv.
Questions tagged [radiation]
69 questions
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How do cockroaches resist the effects of ionizing radiation?
Cockroaches are very hardy insects. It is known that, among other things, they are able to withstand bursts of ionizing radiation that would kill a human being.
The explanations of this observed resistance I've seen include cell division not being…
user132
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Why does UV radiation from the Sun cause skin cancer?
What is the specific mechanism makes non-ionizing UVA and UVB radiation carcinogenic? Can lower energy light, like visible light, be carcinogenic because of this mechanism, or is there some kind of threshold within spectrum at which electromagnetic…
ayane_m
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What is the modern state of the theory of evolution?
When I studied biology at my medical school, we used to learn topics around a century old: the famous Darwin's voyage on "Beagle" to the Galapagos Islands, the classical triad of his Theory of Evolution, etc.
At the same time we were told that there…
Alexander Galkin
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Does a microwave oven disinfect food?
Imagine I am preparing food -- just about to put it into a microwave oven -- and some of it falls on the floor. Assuming it got some bacteria or other organisms (viruses?) on it, will the microwave processing disinfect it? What about worm eggs? As…
noncom
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Why are women more susceptible to radiation?
The answer to this question on the Space.SE indicates women are more susceptible to radiation in space than men.
Why is this the case? Is it merely that women have less muscle mass (which being more dense than fat) and therefore may receive a…
Everyone
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Can we determine a person's age by dating methods or other means?
There are many sports restricted to players of a certain age (e.g. 16 and under, 18 and under, etc.) What if a person is older and fakes his birth certificate to say that he is younger? Is there any way to expose this person?
Can we determine such a…
Tom
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How is the effective dose calculated when only part of the body is irradiated?
For calculating the effective radiation dose in Sv, the equivalent dose absorbed by each body part is averaged according to tissue-specific weighting factors, which sum up to 1.
If not the whole body is irradiated, how are these factors used?
Nadja
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Can any organisms see non-electromagnetic radiation?
Some examples would be cosmic rays, neutron radiation, alpha radiation, beta radiation, muon radiation, and antimatter radiation.
Some related questions: How is non-electromagnetic radiation detected, and would it ever be evolutionarily beneficial?
StarlightDown
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Can bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells be destroyed by resonance?
Radiotherapy has been used to treat cancer.
Can the resonances by coordinated electromagnetic waves (and/or other forms of waves), of various frequencies, amplitudes and pulse rates, directed from various directions, be used to destroy harmful…
Chong Lip Phang
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Are low-intensity radio-waves carcinogenic?
A recent review article, Oxidative mechanisms of biological activity of low-intensity radiofrequency radiation reached a surprising conclusion
our analysis demonstrates that low-intensity RFR [Radio Frequency Radiation] is an expressive oxidative…
Ein Doofus
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Why did they expect Astronaut Scott Kelley's telomere shortening to accelerate? (they got longer!)
The NPR News article and podcast Scientists Share Results From NASA's Twins Study says:
SCOTT KELLY (NASA Astronaut): You know, the symptomatic stuff is fine. I don't have any long-term negative feelings, physically, from being in space. Now,…
uhoh
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How do electrons destroy DNA bonds in radiation?
Malignant tumors can be treated by radiation therapy. Most commonly it's radiotherapy with photons, or protons and so on. The common denominator for both types is that the radiation creates electrons inside the body via different effects.
What I…
Denver Dang
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Can radiation therapy cause cancer?
Radiation therapy is a very popular cancer treatment method. But can it have any risk for make a different cancer? Because i think that radiation exposure can make DNA mutation and thus increase the risk to cause cancer, so why we still use…
LeDuc
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Does melanin protect humans from gamma radiation?
It is known that radiotrophic fungi use melanin to make use of gamma radiation. It is also known that melanin protects human skin from UV radiation.
Thus I wonder whether melanin protects humans from gamma radiation as well?
Are the black people and…
Anixx
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What level of cellular radiation is harmful for humans?
What level of radiation at the frequencies used by the cellular network(1-2 Ghz) is harmful for human health?
RBK
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