Synthetic Melanin Might Save Us From The Nuclear Fallout

It's hard to imagine a world where humanity would survive a nuclear apocalypse, which is why it's probably good that scientists at the University of California developed a new synthetic melanin called Selenomelanin by modifying our natural pheomelanin. This new melanin, enhanced with selenium, offers significantly better protection against radiation.

Is this humanity's future?

Citation:
Cao W, McCallum NC, Ni QZ, et al. Selenomelanin: An Abiotic Selenium Analogue of Pheomelanin. J Am Chem Soc. 2020;142(29):12802-12810. doi:10.1021/jacs.0c05573

#melanin #radiation #evolution #selenomelanin

[cognisant]

This is great for UV radiation but it won't help much against radioactive isotopes in your air, food and water, not unless you were made jet black all the way through, right down to your bone marrow. Even then your resistance to ionizing radiation will never be 100%, you'll be more resistant and that's great but you should still avoid exposure as much as possible. A glass of dirty water killing you in a few months rather than a few hours is a big improvement, but you'll still die a horrifying painful death.

[michaelyammer]

This is really interesting! And you cited your source, I really wish more channels did that.

[neeioxr]

Ah the racists are gonna be so confused 😂

[rockallmusic]

They should work on giving us a new funky skin color like green

[thalastianjorus]

So we become Salamanders? Praise the God Emperor

[TheMilkMan]

This helps block some mild types of radiation such as x-rays or some weak space radiation that isn't good to get hit with constantly. It isn't going to protect people from the traditional "bad" radiation we think of from nuclear weapons and waste. It is just a way to hopefully make space travel safer in the long run.

[auberjean]

Interesting! Liked the Jeff Goldblum humor too!

[MegaSim]

This is a great achievement - still kinda unnerving

[milokiss]

That is fucking insane, I am all for it.

[eestwood]

Think we'll be there same color because we'll all be burned to a crisp🤔

[magnoliannaart]

There’s a little bit more to it, but sure. 😅 Can I get enough for my pets too please? 😜

[timothytumusiime]

Tehehe
Imagining a better reason not to press the big red button for "some" people 😅
If you press boom button, largest chance of survival will make you blacker than Sexxy Red 🤪