Do you know cosmic radiation(宇宙辐射)? Have you ever seen the auroras ( 极 光 ) in the sky? Cosmic radiation creates these pretty lights in the North and South Pole areas. It seems that cosmic radiation is a beautiful gift from space. But for some people, it can be dangerous.
A 53-year-old flight attendant(空中乘务员) in South Korea, who spent about 1, 022 hours flying each year, passed away due to cancer. His death was thought to be connected to great exposure (暴露) to cosmic radiation. During his lifetime, nearly half of his flights crossed the areas in and around the North Pole, where cosmic radiation is very strong.
Cosmic radiation from space is hitting Earth nonstop, coming from both the sun and other stars in the sky.
____ . Earth's magnetic field (磁场) and atmosphere (大气层) protect us from most cosmic radiation. The magnetic field is the strongest near the equator and the weakest at the poles. People living at higher latitudes (纬度), like in Heilongjiang province, are exposed to a bit more cosmic radiation than those living at lower latitudes, like in Hainan province. Also, when you go higher in an airplane, the thin atmosphere increases exposure to cosmic radiation.
Cosmic radiation can create health risks. However, what makes cosmic radiation dangerous also makes it useful. The high speed and energy of cosmic radiation have provided wonderful ideas for treating some cancer. Scientists can now produce man-made radiation similar to cosmic radiation. Compared to the present ways of treating cancer, it can work better with less harm to healthy parts of the body around them.
