2007-10-09 08:10:00 · 7 answers · asked by Gabrielle 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
They wouldn't be.
Although cockroaches can resist levels of radiation that would easily kill almost any vertebrate, they're actually only about average in their radiation resistance when compared with other insects.
There's a type of chironomid midge - a little, harmless fly that looks vaguely like a mosquito, that can survive 10,000 times more radiation than a cockroach.
So basically, the lesson is not so much that cockroaches are super-tough, but more that mammals are really wimpy when it comes to radiation.
2007-10-09 09:08:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
That's a mis-understanding of a throw-away line describing how tough cockroaches are. In fact, other things besides cockroaches would survive just as well. The radiation is not the only effect, by the way - the heat and shockwave would also be pretty harsh, and the secondary aftereffects would cause a good deal of difficulty for anything that lived through the initial blast(s). In a nutshell, cockroaches as a group are far more likely to survive a nuclear holocaust than humans and many other animals would, but there are lots of other kinds of animals that would do OK as well. But get close enough to the explosion and nothing is going to survive.
2007-10-09 16:51:31 · answer #2 · answered by John R 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
nothing can survive an atomic bomb explosion because if they are not killed by the radiation, then they would be killed by the pressure wave crushing their body and flying debris
they can, however, survive a stronger dose of radiation than humans
2007-10-09 23:37:53 · answer #3 · answered by filldwth? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I guess they don't worry too much about the question in the first place. Are you asking for a scientific response? Why would they survive more than anything else? I know they are resilient bugs, but I never heard of this. Sorry can't help.
2007-10-09 15:16:05 · answer #4 · answered by Tom 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They probably are not. But since they have survived for milliions of years unchanged, odds are that a bit of radiation won't really bother them all that much.
2007-10-09 15:16:33 · answer #5 · answered by Yahzmin ♥♥ 4ever 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they have a high degree of survivability, since they are resistant to radiation and can burrow underground for extended periods of time and avoid fallout
2007-10-09 15:20:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Orkin has the answer! http://tinyurl.com/hotroach
2014-06-17 22:23:38 · answer #7 · answered by andrew h 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋