Re: DINOSAUR CANCER -Reply

[ArtSippo@aol.com]

Neutrinos are probably the least likely candidates to cause mutations in DNA
secondary to a supernova since they have neither mass nor charge and require
a virtually direct hit on an atom or molecule to interact.  From a supernova,
I would expect that the most likely type of radiation to cause mutations in
neighboring star systems would be electromagnetic radiation in the gamma
range.  Neutrons decay too fast.  Charged particles (alpha, beta, protons,
etc.) are too likely to interact with space debri, each other, magnetic
fields, or the atmosphere to get to the ground.  Still the gamma ray
signature from a supernova in our galactic neighborhood (~12 lt-yrs) would
probably be enough to kill most life on earth.

Art