Could Termites Survive a Nuclear Blast?
This piece is not meant to be alarmist. Tests show that even though beetles are six to 15 times more radiation-resistant than humans, they will still die from exposure. While cockroaches are considered to be the ultimate survivors, able to survive high amounts of radiation, they are not the only creatures who might survive a nuclear event. It is true that there is a well-known myth that termites could survive a nuclear explosion, but in the contemporary setting, there is no way of proving it. Scientific data has shown that termites can survive up to 10 times as much radiation as humans, and they are still capable of reproducing. So, it is safe to say if beetles cannot withstand a nuclear explosion or event, termites cannot either. In summary, the answer to that question is NO; termites cannot survive a nuclear explosion, nor can they survive any other type of ionizing radiation, in todays setting. On the other hand, beetles have been tested for radiation tolerance, and they are found ...