What happens if a gamma ray hits the human body?

Gamma rays have so much penetrating power that several inches of a dense material like lead, or even a few feet of concrete may be required to stop them. Gamma rays can pass completely through the human body; as they pass through, they can cause ionizations that damage tissue and DNA.

Why are gamma rays from outer space not dangerous?

Due to their penetrating nature, gamma rays require large amounts of shielding mass to reduce them to levels which are not harmful to living cells, in contrast to alpha particles, which can be stopped by paper or skin, and beta particles, which can be shielded by thin aluminium.

Are there gamma rays in space?

Gamma-rays are the highest-energy form of light in the universe. Some are generated by transient events, such as solar flares and the huge star explosions known as supernovas. NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has been mapping out the high-energy sky since its June 2008 launch.

How do humans use gamma rays?

Gamma rays are used in medicine (radiotherapy), industry (sterilization and disinfection) and the nuclear industry. Shielding against gamma rays is essential because they can cause diseases to skin or blood, eye disorders and cancers.

Can gamma rays make me Hulk?

Different versions of The Hulk give us different reasons for his transformation. In all of them, a high dose of gamma rays are involved. The gamma rays mutate Bruce Banner’s DNA and cause him to transform into The Hulk whenever he’s angry.

What Colour is gamma radiation?

Unlike the Incredible Hulk, gamma rays are not green — lying as they do beyond the visible spectrum, gamma rays have no color at all that we can describe.

What would happen if a gamma ray burst hit the Earth?

Gamma ray bursts are extremely powerful, but the energy is concentrated in a narrow beam, making hitting the Earth extremely unlikely. If one hits the Earth, it would depend on the distance. Within 6000 light years it starts to have effects. The atmosphere will absorb the gamma radiation and emits it as UV light.

What if we could see gamma rays in the sky?

If we could see gamma rays, the night sky would look strange and unfamiliar. The familiar view of constantly shining constellations would be replaced by ever-changing bursts of high-energy gamma radiation that last fractions of a second to minutes, popping like cosmic flashbulbs, momentarily dominating the gamma-ray sky and then fading.

What are the effects of space radiation on human body?

This effect can damage the atoms in human cells, leading to future health problems such as cataracts, cancer and damage to the central nervous system. It is very difficult to predict the long-term effects of space radiation on the human body, especially on our astronauts, who may spend many months in space.

How does a gamma ray detector work?

DETECTING GAMMA RAYS. Gamma-ray detectors typically contain densely packed crystal blocks. As gamma rays pass through, they collide with electrons in the crystal. This process is called Compton scattering, wherein a gamma ray strikes an electron and loses energy, similar to what happens when a cue ball strikes an eight ball.