Mythbusters to Test Cockroach Radiation Myth

redwoodtree writes "An article on the site for the Tri-City Herald sums it up perfectly: 'Contrary to popular belief, not a significant amount of research goes into cockroach radiation.' To test the old saw about 'the cockroaches being the only survivors of a nuclear war' Discovery Channel's Mythbusters are going out to Hanford Site, where plutonium was manufactured for the first nuclear bomb. It's the single most polluted nuclear waste site in the U.S. The Mythbusters are going to take cockroaches and other insects and apply successively higher doses of radiation in a controlled setting."

Comments

Re:Is it a MYTH???

[wanderingknight]

Umm, until there's scientific backing to the claim, any "popular knowledge" is and remains a myth. That's the whole point of the word. From dictionary.com:

5.an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution. Seems mythic enough to me.

Re:Call from PETA in ... 3, 2, 1

[R2.0]

"So what is your criteria for what you will and won't murder ?"

Objection, your Honor - Loaded Question (Or is it leading the witness?)!

The correct question is "So what is your criteria for what you will and won't kill?"

"Killing" is performing an action that causes something that is living to cease doing so.

"Murder" is a legal definition, along with "manslaughter", "homicide", etc. By it's very definition, it is impossible to "murder" a cockroach.

If you are going to troll, do it correctly.

Re:Safety?

[elrous0]

But only the EVIL ones

Re:Is it a MYTH???

[fred fleenblat]

Seriously though, Mythbusters just plain old has a policy of not testing any religious myths. Saw it mentioned in their forums.

Re:Why does the first post is *ALWAYS* funny?

[snowgirl]

I think it's faster to come up with something funny to say, rather than something profound.