cosmic radiation
Interstellar particle bombardment
Cosmic radiation is high-energy particles and electromagnetic waves originating from space—from the sun, distant stars, and beyond our galaxy.
These particles constantly bombard Earth's atmosphere, where most are absorbed or deflected.
At high altitudes and in space, cosmic radiation poses health risks to astronauts and airline crews: Long-haul pilots receive significant cosmic radiation exposure over their careers.
Highest-frequency electromagnetic radiation
- protonsPositive nuclear particles
- alpha particlesEmitted helium nuclei
- electronsNegative charges in atoms
- neutronsUncharged subatomic particles
muons · neutrinos · positrons · high-energy · subatomic · nuclei · antimatter · charged particles
Complete system or domain
- galaxiesGravitationally bound stellar assemblies
- supernovaExploding massive star
- black holesRegions of inescapable gravity
- pulsarsRotating stars emitting radiation
quasars · big bang · interstellar · extragalactic · solar flares · solar wind · magnetars · neutron stars
State of being unprotected
- shieldingProtecting from harm
- dosimeterExposure measurement device
- cancerUncontrolled cell proliferation disease
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
DNA damage · carcinogen · ionizing · Geiger counter · dose · millisievert · rad · rem
Involving electric and magnetic fields
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- gammaGreek alphabet's third
- ultravioletWavelengths shorter than violet
infrared · photons · energy levels · high-frequency · spectroscopy · absorption · radio waves · synchrotron
Devices that discover presence
- observatoriesFacilities for celestial study
- satellitesBodies circling larger ones
- CERNEuropean nuclear research organization
- particle acceleratorsDevices speeding subatomic matter
gamma rays
Highest-frequency electromagnetic radiation
- protonsPositive nuclear particles
- alpha particlesEmitted helium nuclei
- electronsNegative charges in atoms
neutrons · muons · neutrinos · positrons · high-energy · subatomic · nuclei · antimatter · charged particles · relativistic
universe
Complete system or domain
- galaxiesGravitationally bound stellar assemblies
- supernovaExploding massive star
- black holesRegions of inescapable gravity
pulsars · quasars · big bang · interstellar · extragalactic · solar flares · solar wind · magnetars · neutron stars · heliosphere
exposure
State of being unprotected
- shieldingProtecting from harm
- dosimeterExposure measurement device
- cancerUncontrolled cell proliferation disease
mutation · DNA damage · carcinogen · ionizing · Geiger counter · dose · millisievert · rad · rem · cell damage
electromagnetic
Involving electric and magnetic fields
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- gammaGreek alphabet's third
ultraviolet · infrared · photons · energy levels · high-frequency · spectroscopy · absorption · radio waves · synchrotron
detectors
Devices that discover presence
- observatoriesFacilities for celestial study
- satellitesBodies circling larger ones
- CERNEuropean nuclear research organization
particle accelerators · cloud chamber · measurement · discovery · space weather
- catastrophesdisasters, disaster, natural disasters, catastrophe, apocalypse
- space phenomenastars, black hole, meteors, wormhole, dark energy
- cosmologybig bang, Big Bang, big bang theory, universe, dark matter
- cosmic physicsgravity, dark energy, dark matter, black holes, gravitational waves
- cosmic rayssolar rays, proton, protons, electron, electrons
- space biologymicrogravity, bioastronautics, life support, space stations, space habitats