what are the effects of cosmic rays on humans, animals, and the evironment.?

Question

I am writing and essay and i cant find any direct information you dont have to give me the answer if you can just give me a link or a source. if you do give me an answer please give me a source

Answer 1

Cosmic rays are atoms such as atoms of iron that are moving extremely fast, almost at the speed of light. They presumably have no electrons so are highly charged. They hit the Earth's atmosphere and collide with air atoms. These collisions cause a huge shower of particles to reach the Earth's surface from a single cosmic ray particle. This shower may cover a square kilometer or so. The moment of collision with the air causes a flash of light that is detectable by sensitive equipment.

It is suspected that cosmic rays are given off by stars, pulsars etc and the most energetic ones may come from near things called "black holes".

The cosmic ray shower represents a a form of radiation and is generally not considered to be good for living tissues, as it may potentially disrupt cellular functions and cause mutations.

Note that we live in a low-radiation environment. It comes from cosmic ray showers overhead and from the rocks underfoot. Living things have had to evolve to cope with this constant low level of radiation. Cells that become damaged are likely to either repair themselves or self destruct.

Cells that are in hibernation, such as bacteria frozen in ice, cannot repair themselves so the damage from cosmic rays accumulates causing the cell to lose viability after just a few millions of years.

The effect on the environment has probably not been fully uncovered yet. For example it has been speculated that lightning discharges may be initiated by cosmic rays after the clouds have become charged by more earthly means.

Answer 2

Cosmic Rays Effect On Humans

Answer 3

Cosmic rays are charged particles and energy expelled by such objects as stars and black holes. A more modern term for this is 'solar wind'. Google that and you can get more info. Also, look up 'northern lights' as they are the visible manifestation of the solar wind impacting the Earth's magnetic field. Cosmic rays are essentially radiation in all its forms both excited partcles and various energy waves. They can harm DNA, cause burning of skin and retina and would be fatal to life on Earth if the magnetic field didn't act like shields on the Enterprise.

Answer 4

Cosmic rays, for the most part, break down in the upper atmosphere. Generally, they're high-energy elecrons, and a few neutrons, and after they've made it through the Van Allen belts surrounding Earth, most run into atoms of our atmosphere on their way to Earth's surface, and break down.

For the most part, we're protected from these particles, but a few get through. It's believed that cosmic rays are in part responsible for mutations we've seen in species. A ray will enter the reproductive cell of a creature, and *might* dislodge a portion of the DNA molecule, creating a mutation. If the mutation is favorable in the resulting creature, it's carried forward in it's offspring. If it's not favorable, the creature may die without being able to reproduce.