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Wildlife Defies Chernobyl Radiation
An anonymous reader writes "The BBC reports that wildlife has reappeared in the Chernobyl region even with high levels of radiation. Populations of animals both common and rare have increased substantially and there are tantalizing reports of bear footprints and confirmed reports of large colonies of wild boars and wolves. These animals are radioactive but otherwise healthy. A large number of animals died initially due to problems like destroyed thyroid glands but their offspring seem to be physically healthy. Experiments have shown the DNA strands have undergone considerable mutation but such mutations have not impacted crucial functions like reproduction. It is remarkable that such a phenomenon has occurred contrary to common assumptions about nuclear waste. The article includes some controversial statements recommending disposal of nuclear waste in tropical forests to keep forest land away from greedy developers and farmers"
We're fine until we have confirmed reports of colonies of large wild boars and wolves
An old-timer with old-timey ideas.
I recall a certain knight... a black one... who expressed similar optimism in the face of suffering personal maladies.
When things get complex, multiply by the complex conjugate.
... with a space elevator. Get it into space, then use a disposable cargo unit to send it towards the sun.
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
the lead scientist was heard to say.
There are also footprints belonging to a giant, dinosaur-like creature.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true
"The article includes some controversial statements recommending disposal of nuclear waste in tropical forests to keep forest land away from greedy developers and farmers"
Well now. This is one idea that the US can use to solve that whole "eminent domain to benefit businesses" problem.
"Experiments have shown the DNA strands have undergone considerable mutation but such mutations have not impacted crucial functions like reproduction. It is remarkable that such a phenomenon has occurred contrary to common assumptions about nuclear waste."
Ummm... the animals are radioactive and their DNA has undergone considerable mutation. What exactly is contrary here to the common assumptions of radiological contamination? Sure matches my own assumptions.
Sure they can reproduce but I wouldn't exactly be jumping with glee over this "recovery". The damage merely has yet to express itself.
Though if any of the local turtles grow to human size and start dressing like ninjas, I'll take back everything I said.
A former Soviet Republic has developed Radioactive Bears?
Someone get Stephen Colbert on the phone right away! The world must be warned!
Does it make you happy you're so strange?
Oh, wait.
"It's as if the positive changes are being selected in favor of the negative changes."
It's simple really... the creatures that survived were more intelligently designed than those that died.
You must be new here. That's supposed to be:
I like oatmeal, you insensitive clod!
Then, depending on the mood of the mods, you get hammered with Offtopic and/or Redundant, or you escape lucky with only some worthless Funny upmods. Nice try, though, for a n00b.
Goodbye Africa, Russians will soon be making a mint selling exotic hunting trips to bag 4 eyed bears, and boars with an arrays of tusks down thier backs. Oh, and Fishing trips for 3 eyed trout of springfield fame!
I cant wait till they start selling mutant bear rugs on ebay.
... what did you expect, something profound?
there are tantalizing reports of bear footprints
Actually it's not a bear, it's a really huge cat looking for a place to lay his 10,000 eggs.
I didn't found something funny to put here.
No signs of exposure, eh? Look at this picture and tell me it's not an oatmeal-mutant!
One might ask the same about birds. What ARE birds? We just don't know.
You say that as though having two heads is a bad thing.
The grandkids (and subsequent offspring) were showing no signs of the exposure.
Just to be clear, we are talking about the same Japan, right?
Constitutional rights may be respected, repealed, or modified; but they must never be ignored.
I can't wait for hunting season, shouldn't be to difficult to spot a glowing bear!
from a few weeks ago. They didn't breed those in Europe; they just caught a few Chernobyl ones. They would have got a bear too, but those things move amazingly fast on all eights.
Okay
See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
Oddly enough, those characteristics that you consider "positive" in this situation are precisely those that the Flying Spaghetti Monster decided to bless this new generation of animals with.
Verily I say unto you, they HAVE been touched by His Noodly Appendage. Ramen.
Well, typically one would expect bizarre physical mutation from radiation exposure, not bizarre cultural mutation.
Ok thats enough of that, your messing with our swamp thing fantasies.
... what did you expect, something profound?
No. Every generation tends to get rid of bad mutations. It's called natural selection.
I know thats what you'd like to think, but its REALLY His Noodly Appendage making the area potentially habitable for Pirates again. There is simply not enough evidence to support any other conclusion.
Just what we need, a radioactive sun.
...and the carnivorous oatmeal likes YOU.
I know a girl ...
You're really stretching your credibility here, pal.
Dr. Ian Malcolm: I'm simply saying that life, uh... finds a way.
(Can anyone guess the Movie or Book title?)
There are lies, damned lies, and statistics.
Fairly hard. I can almost play the holophonor.
...the "Designer Corporation" has been around for so long that it's probably become like Microsoft
So that explains why we're so vulnerable to viruses.
Blank until
Hmmm. Didn't Magneto have that plan, in essence?
"It is our blasphemy which has made us great, and will sustain us, and which the gods secretly admire in us." - Zelazny
I don't think they adapted. The ones that didn't survive didn't have the capability.
That is an interesting thought. Survival of the most capable. You should make a theory out of that.
"A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes." -Mahatma Gandhi
This is radio Jerevan. Ask us what you want, we will answer what we want.
We have been asked: What is the Soviet union's attitude towards wildlife preservation
Answer: We take it very seriously. Take the Chernobyl natural reserve for example - the west has nothing like it!
Which head?
The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
I'd prefer them to glow in the dark. Everyone knows that mutant pirhana prefer to attack under the cover of darkness!
Man get with the times. It's the Ukraine now, Ukraine and the Soviet Union split up a couple years ago. Not sure who won in the divorce. Oh yeah I remember now, the lawyers.
Personally, I am waiting for the 5 assed bear. Now THATS something worth stuffing and putting on your wall!
~nate