4 ms·
I wonder to what extent mutations produced by the radiation from this reactor accelerated the evolution of life.
by new_realist 7y ago
I wonder to what extent mutations produced by the radiation from this reactor accelerated the evolution of life.
- brohee 7y agoIt was first discussed here today in the context of fungu using radio synthesis https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20342750 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20342750
- saagarjha 7y agoMost background radiation comes from Potassium and Radon: I'm not sure how much of an impact this one reactor might have had.
- new_realist 7y agoIf there were an "optimal" amount of radiation for evolution at particular stages, you could imagine that this reactor, which offers a spectrum of radiation from "really bad" to "optimal" to "background" (depending on distance) would be useful. Lifeforms at the optimal distance from the reactor would evolve at a greater rate.