Is it true that cockroaches would survive a nuclear blast?

Question

I've heard this a lot - is it just a crazy expression, or is it actually true?

Answer 1

A few weeks ago I watched this documentary on cockroaches, which was unbelievable. I totally hate them, but it's so amazing what they can do and how they survive.
Cockroaches are one of the oldest species in the entire world, and their immune system has evolved throughout many many years.
Their whole structure is much more simple than humans and most animals, which is why radiation does not affect them. Dozens of them were put in a special room and were exposed to incredible amounts of radiation... none of them died.
It's not just a crazy expression, they would actually survive a nuclear blast. It's incredible.

Answer 2

Here's an explanation from Why Do Men Fall Asleep After Sex?

"The poor, loathsome, reviled cockroach, persona non grata wherever it goes, chased from one corner of the earth to the other by brandished shoes and rolled-up magazines...But you gotta give the vermin their due, because yes, they could probably withstand the radiation in a thermonuclear blast. A human being exposed to radiation in excess of about 800 rems (the "rem" is a dosage of radiation that will cause a specific amount of harm to human tissue) will most likely die. The killer dose for an American cockroach is 67,500 rems. And a German cockroach would need to be nuked with about 100,000 rems to stop it in its tracks!! There's a simple reason cockroaches (along with other insects) are less vulnerable to radiation that humans--their simplicity. The more complex and longer living an organism is, the more vulnerable it is to the effects of radiation, i.e., the more there is to go wrong. And cockroaches don't live long enough to develop the cancers associated with radiation exposure." p.80!

It's a good book, you should check it out if you haven't already, btw. :)

Answer 3

Basically cockroaches are less susceptible to radiation than mammals because their cells divide much less often than ours.Our cells divide all the time where as cockroaches cells divide for about 48 hrs per week.This is also why radiation is used to kill cancer cells due to the fact cancer cells divide at a much higher rate.So basically finding just the right dose to interfere with the cancer cells should not interfere enough with healthy cells to damage them long term.Basically,cockroaches being impervious to radiation is a myth that more likely stems from the old anti nuclear protests from the 60's & 70's.In fact,although they are not as vulnerable as mammals to the effects of ionising radiation they are apparently lightweights compared to many other insects.

Answer 4

Of course not! Nothing can survive ground 0 of a blast that size. What you are thinking of is "radiation" in which studys show that a cockroach is the most impervious to "gamma" rays {the worst} where they would be among the only survivors.

Answer 5

I'm sorry, but this is my best guess. Perhaps from all the nuclear tests that have been done, cockroaches were the only living forms found uneffected.

Of course, we all know that the radiation did affect them as they continue to grow in size & populate. Within 20 years, give or take, they will have become the Neo Insect Gargantua.....aaahhhyyeeee!!!!

Answer 6

Um, no, a cockroach could by no ability stay to tell the story a nuclear blast. it rather is prevalent to stay to tell the story the heavy radiation that follows, not a nuclear explosion itself! And specific, a cockroach has exponentially bigger resistance to alpha, beta and gamma rays than a human does. What you probably did on your microwave confirmed that cockroaches could be burnt to loss of life -- that could desire to already be obtrusive. however the roach did not die of exposure to radiation.

Answer 7

Well 1/7 of the cockroach population would die from radiation. Cockroaches only divide cells once every 7 days so that is only time their dna is really vulnerable to radiation so on thet day every cockroach dividing its cells would die due to mutation but others should be ok

Answer 8

It is true. They are the oldest surviving insect on the earth. They have been around sence before the dinosours. They would in fact survive a nuclear blast.

Answer 9

Yes,cockroaches are resilient. They have survived many ice ages and I'm sure they can withstand a nuclear blast.

Answer 10

people have survived nuclear blasts several miles away

what do you mean, like right next to the bomb? no, I seriously doubt that a cockroach would live if it were next to several hundred million degrees of hell flame. they can only survive longer than humans in higher radiation environments