eli5: What’s happening to your cells when you get radiation poisoning?

Question

I just watched an anti-war movie “When the Wind Blows” (super disturbing 10/10) and wondered what was happening to the couple as a result of the radiation poisoning.

In: Biology

Answer 1

They’ve been cooked. Like a microwave, except its actually high energy particles shredding your very DNA like a cheese grater instead of low energy radio waves shaking the water molecules until get things hot.