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

Just great

[burtosis]

I wanted to see the episode of what can live longest in a running 1500W microwave. All I got was this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/technology/technology.html?in_article_id=482560&in_page_id=1965

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

[Anonymous Coward]

I thought you were joking, but PETA and the liberals really are more interested in protecting roaches than people.

I don't know about the "liberals" but that's what PETA does. I suppose you also complain that the local mountain biking club is more interested in mountain biking than stamp collecting?

Without Jesus, there is no morality. Without morality, you do stupid things like protect roaches.

I'm not one to weigh in on the whole existence of God question but I see the meat aisle at the supermarket as a harsh reminder that for most people greed is a much stronger emotion than compassion.

And yet most people claim to be fundamentally "good". Maybe subconsciously people do recognize the contradiction in that the most successful religions are those that claim that the only way to avoid getting what you deserve after you die is to become religious.

Re:Safety?

[eln]

Oh crap, and the President just threatened World War III the other day! Anyone living anywhere near Tehran might want to put on some SPF 1,000,000 sunscreen when this episode is taped.

Re:Sorry...

[bob.appleyard]

if you are a girl you probably look like a donkey's asshole, especially if you're home subscribing to Slashdot, loser Whereas, by anonymously hurling sexist abuse at strangers, you are providing a role model for the next generation.

Can someone please tell me the justification for allowing AC posts?

Re:Cockroaches, harmed in the making of broadcast?

[517714]

TV Personalities peers are not scientists - they are TV people, so peer review is dubious. Viewers of television programs such as this are far more interested in good TV than in science, so their feedback is of dubious value. Do you have any evidence that they actually are open to viewer feedback? Sure they say they are, but if you accept there claim without substantiation, you have failed to apply scientific priciples yourself. I have seen the program several times. I have been amazed at how lame their tests sometimes are, particularly when using Buddy the wonder dummy, or whatever they have named him, and how they clearly do not apply critical thinking in the design of their experiments, nor in the conclusions they make from them. In how many episodes have they applied thrust off-center and sent the dummy in circles rather than down range?