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How Terahertz Waves Tear Apart DNA

KentuckyFC writes "Great things are expected of terahertz waves, the radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum between microwaves and the infrared. Terahertz waves pass through non-conducting materials such as clothes, paper, wood and brick and so cameras sensitive to them can peer inside envelopes, into living rooms and 'frisk' people at distance. That's not to mention the great potential they have in medical imaging. Because terahertz photons are not energetic enough to break chemical bonds or ionize electrons, it's easy to dismiss fears over their health effects. And yet the evidence is mixed: some studies have reported significant genetic damage while others, although similar, have reported none. Now a team led by Los Alamos National Labs thinks it knows why. They say that although the forces that terahertz waves exert on double-stranded DNA are tiny, in certain circumstances resonant effects can unzip the DNA strands, tearing them apart. This creates bubbles in the strands that can significantly interfere with processes such as gene expression and DNA replication. With terahertz scanners already appearing in airports and hospitals, the question that now urgently needs answering is what level of exposure is safe."

5 of 279 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Incident at LAX by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    It hurts to read your posts. Seriously.

  2. This never would have happened by sleeponthemic · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    If we'd have gone with velcro.

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    I record my sleeptalking
  3. EM radation affects matter? What?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Who could've guessed?! I myself became a strong believer in this after the microwave oven. You all know about the microwave oven, right? You do believe in it, right? You know how it works?

  4. Slashdotted already? by Skapare · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Maybe they're using the DSL those turtles like slow much.

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    now we need to go OSS in diesel cars
  5. Re:Ethical use of panic... by AioKits · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    >

    Of course you already have piercings, so it may go without saying.

    Oh yes, because as I've heard from the Trinity Broadcasting Network, everybody knows that body modification and art is the precursor to gay. Totally nailed it on the head there. Take your faked outrage and veiled homophobia elsewhere.

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    "Quote me as saying I was mis-quoted." -Groucho Marx