Radiation sickness seems like a real downer, what with the slow, painful death and all. But with nuclear energy being the cleanest and best way to juice up our cities and potential space homes being exposed to radiation via solar flares and the like, being protected from it is only going to get more important in the future. That's why it's pretty great news that Cleveland BioLabs has been hard at work on a single pill, dubbed Protectan, that can sure radiation sickness.
Funded by the Department of Defense, the pill will initially be doled out to soldiers who are at risk of being exposed to weapons such as dirty bombs, but clearly the pill will have practical use for the rest of us as well. If widely distributed, it could make nuclear power much less scary a prospect and could have huge ramifications on how well we survive after the Cylons attack.
Cleveland BioLabs, via io9
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By Enzer Miliard at 11:28 AM ON 04/05/08
I don't know where you get that nuclear power is the cleanest, it may produce a ton of power but wind, solar, geothermal, and water power are by far cleaner. Of course this is in the nuclear waste sense of it all. Too bad we couldn't find a way to recycle used waste... or am I just out of the loop on that one?
Anyway that pill would be pretty cool and all, but does it cure leukemia and prevent cancer and any other bad affects of radiation?
By Maran at 12:00 PM ON 04/05/08
And we're one step closer to the Fallout scenario...
By Killa Charlie at 4:53 PM ON 04/05/08
@ Enzer Miliard
Its true that nuclear power dose produce waste, but as compared to back in the 80s and 90s we've come quite far in the reduction of waste actually being made. I figure we'll eventually just end up shooting that crap to the moon sooner or later anyway.
Man, these people need to start thinking of more original names for drugs.
By IsoTek at 4:02 PM ON 04/07/08
I am eager to see this new drug in action. I wonder if it can be used by anyone or if there are medical contraindications for the use of this drug.
By biff at 1:40 PM ON 04/11/08
I can hardly wait till our self-described "leaders" have a chance to test this in the catastrophe they've prepared for us.
It looks like the reporter just copied the company PR blurb. Did anyone look at their web site? They explain how the drug works. Although it reduces immediate death rates substantially by inhibiting cellular apoptosis, it doesn't even address the DNA damage and resulting cellular chaos that apoptosis protects the body against.
My guess is this will allow brainwashed post-apocalyptic soldiers to fight it out to the last drop of blood before dying of cancer. This is progress?
And no, nuclear power isn't a solution unless/until they stop dumping the waste on future generations. This is basic human morality. Suicidal societies tend to be non-sustainable.