It is like light? Or heat or gas? Or small particles like dust? How does it harm us?
In: 3
I’m only answering “how does it harm us.” I’m simplifying radiation poisoning in the form of a story. Not too much the science. So yes, it will be *wrong-ish.* If you want the real science ask the other ppl here.
If you pull on a grenade bomb, then leave it in your hands (instead of throwing it far away) it will blow you to bits. If set it down in front of you, it will partially blow you to bits. If you throw it away, but not far enough, you’ll be hit by shrapnel.
I assume you understand atoms make up everything including your cells and the “machinery” inside your cells.
I also assume you know atoms are made up of smaller bits (protons, electrons, neutrons).
So logically, those atomic **bits** are smaller than cells, but more importantly – **smaller than DNA.** Keep these size ratios in mind.
As many people have said radioactive atoms are unstable. In their search for stability, they seprate from each other very quickly. In otherwords, they explode, like a grenade bomb. The difference- in this case, the shrapnel is **the atomic bits.** The insides of the atom are flying at high speed… towards the insides of your cells.
Radioactive poisoning, in a nutshell, is atomic bits blowing your cells and DNA apart. Depending on the type of radiation, the type of cells/DNA, the method you were exposed, and for how long – determines the outcome for you.
Pretty much any degree of this is bad, and typically deadly. “Deadly” just depends on wether you’ll die within hours vs. developing cancer at a mysteriously young age.
Radiation disrupts the rhytms of your body’s complex machinery on such a small scale (literally atomic) that it makes it difficult for traditional medicine to help you.
Even if your cells are mostly intact, even if all it did was cut up your DNA, it has forever messed up your body’s “software code.” You can’t follow instructions that you can’t read.
If the daughters of these “scrambled DNA” cells replicate – you’re spreading this “distorted” software code around your body. Your body is getting more ilegible instructions more often and in more places. This rapidly increases your risk for cancer. Why?
One of these instructions includes suicide. All cells have suicide instructions. A collections of cells that don’t follow instructions and also refuse to die become known as – cancer cells.
Radiation: https://youtu.be/2TxLrfdMKWY
Cancer: https://youtu.be/1AElONvi9WQ
Radiation animation: https://youtu.be/KYDil96NR5Q
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