Misconceptions

Picture was found here

The misconception that I have heard the most about was the fact that cockroaches could survive ultimately anything. All in all this freaked me out. I mean I suppose if there was a nuclear was or something of that sort and my land was affected it really would not matter if cockroaches could survive due to the fact that I would not be around any longer to encounter them. The thought of this did give up all hope on ever getting rid of them and keeping them out of my life. They are stuck with me forever and I have to accept that, though I doubt I ever will.

I had no idea that so many other insects and bacteria could actually survive more radiation and overall more than cockroaches actually could. I also did not realize how relatively new the information on cockroaches ability to endure radioactivity actually was. There is much more information that dates further back on insects such as different beetles, weevils, moths, and the bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans who are more likely to survive that cockroaches. 

I looked up this link to find some more information on the myth of cockroaches being able to survive anything. This link discusses how the myth began when cockroaches were the only survivors after the atomic bomb drops on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It also discusses how the Mythbusters did an experiment to see how much this myth would actually hold up. They found that cockroaches could withstand an atomic bomb and radioactivity, but only to a certain extent. I believe that this would be a good thing to possibly discuss in the chapter of this book to have something that more people could relate to (most people know of or have seen Mythbusters and may have even seen the given episode).

All in all cockroaches are not something I want to be able to survive anything. Knowing that there is enough radioactivity to get rid of them is comforting even though I would more than likely not be around to experience the glorious day.