My new Question

[Kumar]

Hello all,

I have a new question:

Q. Can our body attract or repulse Cosmic rays, Sun rays, UV/IR rays etc. & other atmospheric particles? If it can, then how our body works to this effect, is it due so some biochemical changes in the body?

I mean to say that, if our body is capable of accepting or rejecting these things & if biochemical changes in body is responsible for the same? Eg. Few people feel better under Sun Rays but other can be worse, how?

Best wishes.

 

[scotth]

Our bodies can neither attract or repel any type of photon.

No more so than it could for a bullet for example.

 

[Correa Neto]

As far as I know, our body does not have enough mass to generate a gravity swell big enough to "attract" photons. Neither our body generates magnetic fields big enough to change the trajectories of charged particles emmited by the sun or other celestial bodies such as pulsars, etc.

Where did you take the information from?
Please define "few"and "other". You are talking about a percentage? What are "atmospheric particles"? Photons emmited by the sun are hardly "atmospheric" (unless you are somehow referring to the Sun's atmosphere), neither high-energy charged particles emmited from pulsars, distant stars, etc.

Was your statement supported by a research that took in to account the temperature, exposure time, and where the subjects came from? Such questions as - Are they used to be exposed to the sun? Do they all have skins with roughly the same ammount of melanine generating cells? - are quite important for your statement.

Example- a person with very pale skin tone placed under the tropical sun for a whole day will certainly not feel very good... No deviation of "cosmic rays" needed. Not to mention someone with skin cancer. Your statement has taken this in to account?

 

[Zombified]

To be rather pedantic, most 'cosmic rays' at the surface are secondary particles produced when 'real' cosmic rays hit atoms in the upper atmosphere, mostly electrons, positrons, muons, pions, and photons (and neutrinos, but you hardly see those unless you have millions of gallons of very pure water down in a mine). Depending on energy, a single cosmic ray can produce many, many secondary particles that shower down from the point of collision.

The primary cosmic rays are just atomic nuclei, mostly hydrogen and helium, in fact, the distribution of elements in cosmic rays matches calculations of overall elemental abundance from stellar nuclear synthesis, plus some slight enhancement of rarer isotopes due to neutron collisions in space. In other words, the particles found in cosmic rays are produced by stars just like all the other atoms in the universe. How they get so much energy is apparently a bit of a mystery, but the best theory is that they are accelerated by the electromagnetic shockwaves emitted by supernovae.

The paths these particles take is not influenced by human bodies at all.

Cosmic rays affect the body the same way any ionizing radiation does, though the dose is quite small. Muons in particular are quite penetrating: a muon produced by (the decay of a pion produced by) a cosmic ray can go through a kilometer of solid rock.

I know of a program in the Pacific Northwest where cosmic ray detectors are placed in high schools all over the region, acting as an educational outreach program but also allowing investigators to detect (and measure) the extent and frequency of extremely large (and therefore high energy) showers. Apparently there were one or two administrations who needed to have it explained to them that a detector was would not 'attract' cosmic rays and irradiate the poor little childrens.

 

[Kumar]

Thanks for explainations. However can you inform possible effects of cosmic rays etc. on human body more specifically & clearly? All livings are effected by Sun rays which can be a strong effect wheras other rays may effect lightly. How we can differanciate this effect in person to person, if it is there?

 

[Zombified]

All radiation damages living tissue in one of two ways.

First, there's ionization. Ionization involves large amounts of energy per particle, and damages individual molecules by knocking electrons off of them. This makes them chemically active, causing a reaction that in general alters the molecules. When that happens, the molecule is no longer doing what it used to do, and is doing something different. If the molecule happens to be active DNA in a replicating cell, there is a small chance of mutation. A tiny percentage of those mutations are significant, and a tiny percentage of those might turn into a cancer.

Second, a very large number of particles can heat tissue simply by being absorbed, whether they have enough energy to ionize molecules or not. This is what happens when you microwave something.

Cosmic rays and other similar radiation damage tissue by ionization.

Ultraviolet rays from the sun damage tissue by both ionization and heating.

Infrared does not damage tissue by ionization, but it would heat tissue if there was an awful lot of it, or it was concentrated. For example, an infrared laser can damage the retina of the eye if you are unlucky enough to look at one.

 

[Kumar]

All radiation damages living tissue in one of two ways.

First, there's ionization. Ionization involves large amounts of energy per particle, and damages individual molecules by knocking electrons off of them. This makes them chemically active, causing a reaction that in general alters the molecules. When that happens, the molecule is no longer doing what it used to do, and is doing something different. If the molecule happens to be active DNA in a replicating cell, there is a small chance of mutation. A tiny percentage of those mutations are significant, and a tiny percentage of those might turn into a cancer.

Second, a very large number of particles can heat tissue simply by being absorbed, whether they have enough energy to ionize molecules or not. This is what happens when you microwave something.

Cosmic rays and other similar radiation damage tissue by ionization.

Ultraviolet rays from the sun damage tissue by both ionization and heating.

Infrared does not damage tissue by ionization, but it would heat tissue if there was an awful lot of it, or it was concentrated. For example, an infrared laser can damage the retina of the eye if you are unlucky enough to look at one.

Nicely explained, thanks. Now, if all these radiations can be absorbed by/in the body system & if body is capable of attracting or repeling these radiations? If capable, then how biochemical changes in body can effect this attraction or repulsion?

 

[scotth]

Nicely explained, thanks. Now, if all these radiations can be absorbed by/in the body system & if body is capable of attracting or repeling these radiations? If capable, then how biochemical changes in body can effect this attraction or repulsion?

Again, the body does not attract or repel any of these.

Picture them pretty much behaving as bullets. You are either in the way, or not. Or you are behind an obstacle that will stop the particle or ray, or you are not.

 

[Kumar]

The paths these particles take is not influenced by human bodies at all.

Cosmic rays affect the body the same way any ionizing radiation does, though the dose is quite small. Muons in particular are quite penetrating: a muon produced by (the decay of a pion produced by) a cosmic ray can go through a kilometer of solid rock.

Scotth said: Again, the body does not attract or repel any of these.

Picture them pretty much behaving as bullets. You are either in the way, or not. Or you are behind an obstacle that will stop the particle or ray, or you are not.

But when bullets passes through the body, will it leave some effect or not? I mean to ask that when these cosmic rays will pass through the body, will these leave some effect of ionization or radiation? How it a differant effect in differant person? Do you mean to say that their effect will be the same on all the peoples but it depends upon the system of any person how to take & process this effect? Eg. like sugar if taken by differant persons can show differant effects depending upon their biochemestry/phisiology/pathology?

 

[Kumar]

Where did you take the information from?
Please define "few"and "other". You are talking about a percentage? What are "atmospheric particles"? Photons emmited by the sun are hardly "atmospheric" (unless you are somehow referring to the Sun's atmosphere), neither high-energy charged particles emmited from pulsars, distant stars, etc.

Example- a person with very pale skin tone placed under the tropical sun for a whole day will certainly not feel very good... No deviation of "cosmic rays" needed. Not to mention someone with skin cancer. Your statement has taken this in to account?

Pls refer my previous post. The result of effect of sun can be differant on differant person inspite of its similar exposure. Is it due to attraction/repultion OR due to body system/chemistry is being discussed? By atmospheric particles, I meant for the 'other than rays/radiation's particles or molecules like tree droplets, moisture, pollutants, earth particles, sea air etc.

 

[Zep]

Kumar, we have already answered one of your questions: the human body does NOT attract or repulse cosmic rays or sunlight or any sort of electromagnetic radiation. Any further speculation assuming it does is pointless.

 

[Zombified]

The human body does not attract or repel radiation, or alter its path.

The damage a certain amount of a certain type of radiation will basically be the same in any person. Of course, a healthier person will heal more quickly (from, say, a sunburn). The immune system is responsible for cleaning up damage from radiation (among other things) so a person with a compromised immune system is more likely to develop a cancer whatever the cause might be. But the initial damage will be the same, it's just physics.

For sunlight, of course, people with light skin tend to experience more sunburn than people with dark skin. Skin pigmentation helps absorb ultraviolet rays before they do damage to skin cells. Dark skin is sort of a "radiation shield" for ultraviolet, but of course it won't effect most cosmic rays which are far more penetrating.

 

[The Don]

The result of effect of sun can be differant on differant person inspite of its similar exposure. Is it due to attraction/repultion OR due to body system/chemistry is being discussed?

As I understand it, the effect that exposure to sunlight has to the human body relates to the degree of exposure and then to the effect that degree of exposure has on the skin.

I am very pale, as a result I get burned easily. I have a friend who is very dark (more melatonin) as a result he can spend much more time in the sun without getting burned.

Regardless of this however, I may not get skin cancer and he may. This has to do with how the skin reacts to UV exposure. At the extreme end of the scale are people who can endure no exposure to sunlight.

None of this has anything to do with the attraction of photons, cosmic rays (which are high energy sub atomic particles) or any other thing.

 

[Kumar]

The human body does not attract or repel radiation, or alter its path.

The damage a certain amount of a certain type of radiation will basically be the same in any person... But the initial damage will be the same, it's just physics.

For sunlight, of course, people with light skin tend to experience more sunburn than people with dark skin. Skin pigmentation helps absorb ultraviolet rays before they do damage to skin cells. Dark skin is sort of a "radiation shield" for ultraviolet, but of course it won't effect most cosmic rays which are far more penetrating.

Zep, Zombified,

Thanks for simplified replies. It looks that our body may not be able to attract or repel or alter the path of rays/radiation, but can somewhat shield their effects.

You have mentioned that these rays/radiations damages the body tissues in certain amount which immune system is required to heal. Is it sure that all rays/radiations causes only damages to the body & we are not benefited from these rays/radiations in any way(directly or indirectly). Sun rays are said to provide some beneficial results in animals & plants like Vit.D, energy etc.?

 

[Zep]

You have mentioned that these rays/radiations damages the body tissues in certain amount which immune system is required to heal. Is it sure that all rays/radiations causes only damages to the body & we are not benefited from these rays/radiations in any way(directly or indirectly). Sun rays are said to provide some beneficial results in animals & plants like Vit.D, energy etc.?

Now we are getting somewhere.

You have described a mixed bag of things that might affect humans, positively and negatively. For example, you mentioned vitamin D which is created by the human body on exposure to sunlight (more accurately, by exposure to specific frequencies of light). Without vitamin D, the life-threatening disorder rickets can occur. However OVER-exposure to light, again at some specific frequencies, CAN cause damage to human bodies, such as sunburn and skin cancers. So there is a balance between too much sun and too little, and that this can also be affected by such things as how much melanin there is in your skin (dark skin or suntanned), and environmental factors (tropics versus arctic, summer and winter, ozone layers, etc, etc).

 

[Kumar]

Zep, thanks. Can it be true with other rays/radiations than Sun rays? I mean, is it possible that our body can get some beneficial effects from other rays/radiations than the Sun Rays(directly or indirectly)? Indirectly, it may mean that the tissue damage(may be only weak tissues) can be a beneficial effect .

 

[Kumar]

As I understand it, the effect that exposure to sunlight has to the human body relates to the degree of exposure and then to the effect that degree of exposure has on the skin.

I am very pale, as a result I get burned easily. I have a friend who is very dark (more melatonin) as a result he can spend much more time in the sun without getting burned.

Regardless of this however, I may not get skin cancer and he may. This has to do with how the skin reacts to UV exposure. At the extreme end of the scale are people who can endure no exposure to sunlight.

None of this has anything to do with the attraction of photons, cosmic rays (which are high energy sub atomic particles) or any other thing.

The Don, thanks. Inspite of all these things, liking/benefits/effects & disliking/damages/effects of Sun Rays may differ among people with pale skin OR among people with dark skin. Skin pigmentation may have no relation with the liking/benefits & disliking/damages of Sun Rays but can only have relation only with its inensity.

 

[The Don]

Kumar, I do not consider any of the following links to be definitive, but they do provide an easy to digest (and to find) overview of skin cancer risk factors:

Pale skin is a risk factor
http://health.discovery.com/diseasesandcond/encyclopedia/2526.html and it implies that past history of sun exosure may have something to do with it.

Family history also has something to do with it http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/c...o_Know_About_Skin_Cancer.asp?sitearea=&level=

Exposure to sunlight does enable the body to produce vitamin D http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/supplements/vitd.html

 

[Kumar]

Don, thanks for keeping in view of my preferance for easy language. It is ok that pale skin person are more suspectible to Sun Rays because of less pigmentatin & thin shin. But it also depends upon how much Sun light your body needs because it has both beneficial & damaging effects to human body.

However, I want to ask that if other rays/radiations can also have both of this type effects(directly or indirectly)?

[ Some relation of Vit.D with Silicea seems to be possible by looking on the site provided by you, thanks.]

 

[The Don]

However, I want to ask that if other rays/radiations can also have both of this type effects(directly or indirectly)?

[ Some relation of Vit.D with Silicea seems to be possible by looking on the site provided by you, thanks.]

Radiation other than electomagnetic radiation ? I understand that if you were to swallow a Beta radiation source then this could cause problems. If you define radiation as that which is emmitted from ANY kind of source then the shrapnel "radiation" from a shrapnel source can have a pretty profound effect on the human body.

COuld you also please indicate how "[ Some relation of Vit.D with Silicea seems to be possible by looking on the site provided by you, thanks.] " It is in no way apparent from my reading of that site.