Gamma Rays
Gamma Waves
By: Maximilian Muller
Gamma waves have the shortest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum and are also the deadliest. These waves have multiple ways to reach people. One of them is far out in space the sun creates gamma waves the same way that it creates light. Yet another source is much closer, it is from atomic and nuclear explosions that could happen anywhere at any time depending on foreign relations. By the massive buildup of pressure, the release creates gamma rays that leak out and affect the surrounding area microseconds after it happens. These waves were released after the explosions in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. These waves are quite important since they can kill anyone and since they are a form of radiation thy can go through practically anything to reach organic life. This radiation causes radiation poising and cancer which were both apparent in areas that had nuclear testing or explosions happen to them. 
In the previous blog about Nuclear Energy Chernobyl was mentioned and was a large part of that blog. Chernobyl was a nuclear disaster and it released gamma rays, this is important since this environment might be the only place that we could possibly study that has a gamma rays in remote locations in the fallout. This is scientists one chance to dis cover what they could do to the human body. Now unless people find a way to reach the sun or another nuclear explosion or meltdown occurs then not much can happen. Yet with the Chernobyl disaster the firefighters sent after the meltdown reported symptoms that happens when someone is exposed to gamma rays. These rays are incredibly deadly and can enter through breathing in the air or by ingestion or many other ways through osmosis and many other small spaces in the cells of your body. Therefore, people need to wear gas masks and many other pieces of protection on their body. These effects were also found in areas like Hiroshima and Nagasaki which many more people were exposed to these rays causing leukemia and other cancers.
This dangerous radiation is keeping people from Mars since NASA does not want to put astronauts in a position in which they can get poisoning and die. Until they can successfully find a way to keep the radiation out of the explorers so that they do not get poisoned and cost NASA resources and lives. For this reason, NASA cannot set up bases around the solar system. Yet there are certain resources that can keep the radiation out of the Astronauts systems like lead and various other synthetic and natural materials. In the meantime, NASA could just send robots to get a facility running but robotics technology just is not there yet either. Our atmosphere on Earth protects us from this harmful radiation out in the galaxy. Other celestial bodies do not have an atmosphere or an atmosphere as strong as ours. The Astronauts who went to the moon were still protected by the atmosphere and thus they did not get poisoned by the radiation.
The field of research will not be able to go on until some technological advancements happen first since there are not areas that are safe to test it since it is a hazard to human health. Scientists could experiment with animals, but I doubt that this will work because people have taken a stand against these test subjects. Now unless a nuclear disaster happens, and we need to find a way to save people there will be little to no discoveries here. A trip with people to Mars might give people a way to study these rays. With a Mars base it would mean that people need to find a way around this hazard. Chernobyl offered a chance for people to study this radiation, but technology and awareness was not very large about this issue. Yet with unstable nations like North Korea and Iran developing nuclear weapons in is vital that we find a way to counter this.
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