Could a cockroach withstand the blast from a nuclear bomb?
While no cockroach could survive an actual blast, some experts believe a cockroach could withstand the fallout. Others, however, aren’t so sure. Cockroaches can absorb a lot of radiation compared to humans. Over the course of a lifetime, an average person is exposed to around 16 rems of radiation (a lethal dose is around 800 rems). Cockroaches, on the other hand, can handle a helluva lot more. This page on Integrated Pest Management from Iowa State University (there really is a major for everyone) explains cockroaches can withstand between 67,500 and 105,000 rems. For some reason, German cockroaches are particularly resilient. Ah, but this opinion isn’t shared by everyone. This article from the
