I would like to know how the inner-mechanisms of a cockroach would not be fatally affected, and how Twinkies would not be drizzled in radioactivity.
-Mac
Mythbusters looked into the cockroach thing, with some interesting results(scroll down to “Cockroach survival”, about 1/3 down). Basically, they found that while cockroaches can indeed survive radiation at levels lethal to humans, other insects did better.
As for why, here’s a quick summary from Wikipedia, with more details in the source material:
Meanwhile, our cells are dividing all the time, particularly bone marrow and the immune system. So we’re f’ed.
Well, most things in the blast zone would likely be destroyed, right? So Twinkies, roaches, and military vehicles also, right? I’m guessing you mean outside the blast zone, but exposed to a dose of radiation lethal for humans, right? It’s just cooler to say, “Zomighad, dey nuked it, and only twinies and roaches were left!” So far I understand you?
Well, Twinkies are already dead, so there’s no leathal dose of radiation for them. And you knew that on your own, right? Maybe you mean something else? Like would they be toxic, with or without the wrapper, etc. You can ask those specific questions later, if you want to.
As for roaches, it’s said that they can resist 6 times the dosage a human can, right here: Cockroach - Wikipedia
Yeah all of those questions were considered, I just thought that one question summed up the idea.
Well, who ever said, or really wondered if, Twinkies would survive or not survive radiation? I mean, that whole part is just a gag, right? What inner workings do you think Twinkies have in common with roaches, but not humans, let’s say, to work them into the problem? Cream filling organs? Reproducing sponge cake cells? What?
The other big advantage cockroaches (and other insects) have over humans is that they reproduce very quickly. So what if a bunch of roaches die? They’ll be replaced soon enough.
IIRC, Norway rats survived the fallout on atolls during tests as well.
The cockroaches will survive the radiation pretty well. What they won’t survive the lack of indoor heating when the people die.
As for Twinkies… they’re not exactly alive, so you can’t kill them. And they do have a very impressive shelf life.
I’ve never heard the Twinkie thing. Are you sure it’s not being confused with the myth that Twinkies “last forever,” and thus provide sustenance for a post-apocalyptic civilization? They don’t, by the way. They eventually become rock hard, if something doesn’t eat them first.
Twinkies actually have a surprisingly short shelf-life. The notion of Twinkies having a shelf-life that can be measured by carbon-dating is an urban legend.
Twinkies have a shelf life of twenty five days. A relatively long time for a baked product but not the decades that urban legend would claim.