I have just thought of an idea while looking at
this thread. Could Gamma rays be
helpful to us humans?
Here is a link for a description of gamma rays...but for
those of you that don't want to read or don't like to click links here is the quick and edited version:
Intense gamma radiation can kill bacteria and other microbes. This makes it useful for sterilizing medical equipment.
This quote got me thinking about the Gamma ray bursts that people are talking about. Is it possible that a low concentration gamma ray burst aimed at
the Earth would just wipe out all the bacteria and other microbes that make up the human body? Scientists aren't even sure what all the bacteria and
microbes do for us...some are helpful others are harmful and some don't seem to do anything! Here is another
link about the human microbiome ( I am sorry that it is wikipedia!! ).
In
Scientific American they talk about the human microbial
environment and that they don't yet understand what rapid changes would mean for it. With the average human life span inching its way up over the
years ( in developed countries ), Betsy Foxman, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan (U.M.) School of Public Health in Ann Arbor
had this to say,
each new generation in developed countries comes into the world with fewer of these native populations (microbes). They're actually missing some
component of their microbiota that they've evolved to have.
It seems to me that missing components = longer life. ( Just my opinion...no sources ). What would happen if a gamma ray burst hit the Earth and
cleansed it of all the bacteria and microbes? Would we find we would live longer? Would bacteria/microbes from space wipe us all out? I am
interested to read your opinions.