This picture depicts the nuking of the Bikini Atoll in 1954 with the Bravo nuclear bomb. People avoid the island to this day, for obvious reasons. This avoidance, however, has created quite a sanctuary for the marine environment to recover in. Nearby islands are apparently seeding this coral reef, which is flourishing, according to this article in Newscientist. Some seafaring poachers approach close to the island, but no one else.
The background radiation, apparently, is no more than any large metropolis. The coconuts that grow on the island, however, are red-hot (metaphorically) with radiation. Because the trees concentrate fats in the coconuts, and fats accumulate and store radiation well, the coconuts are extremely toxic. This is called bioaccumulation . This is the same process which makes non-organic avocados (again, very fatty) the super-fund sites that they are.
As an added bonus, Monty Python fans need to check out the comments below the Newscientist post -- a hint, they involve the African Swallow.
Enjoy flourishing and vibrant nature wherever it happens to get a toehold,
Bp
[photo credit in linked article, article via slashdot]
4 comments:
Heagh heagh heagh. Funny - in such a not-funny way.
In a less radioactive but more landminey related subject, the DMZ is a virtual animal paradise, with many species no longer seen the two Korea's flourishing there. Pretty cool, huh?
You go, Mr. Biology Teacher, and kick some loony ass for those good kids.
Chernobyl also demonstrates this phenom . . . I think.
Avcacados too? Makes sense. On a budget total org can be tough. I knew about the thin skinned veggies. I'll have to add avocados to the too toxic only organic list. Thanks for the heads up.
LT, I've heard about the DMZ thing, but that probably will deserve a writeup, very cool.
OMT: The "toxic" list is easy to assemble - the more fat it has the more toxic it is when not organic -- so butter first, then cheese and dairy, meats, avocado -- etc. Things that aren't a huge concern and should be low on the list are very "watery" things like lettuce.
Of course, as budget permits, my other big reason for buying oranics is soil conservation/preservation and improvement. If we want viable soils in the future, we have to pay folks to take care of the soil. That's what buying oraganics also does.
Oh, is that a soapbox under me? Let me put that way
hehe
In a sort of related but not really note, I heard the other day that world-wide, falling coconuts kill more people than sharks in an average year. Weird, eh?
Wonder if they even take into account the radioactive coconuts?
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