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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.
the lead scientist was heard to say.
There are also footprints belonging to a giant, dinosaur-like creature.
"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?
"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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
You're calling building a space elevator trivial? Damn, what do you consider hard?
When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl
...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.
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
Which head?
The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.