However, aside from a lack of gravity, Logan says high radiation is the real hurdle for living and procreating in low earth orbit and beyond.

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency RadNet system is designed to protect the public by notifying scientists, in near real time, of elevated levels of radiation so they can determine whether protective action is required.

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He therefore gave his models a series of decade-long tests beginning with the real climatic conditions (level of solar radiation, ocean temperature and so on) on 80 different start dates from 1982 to 2001.

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The health effects of increased fossil fuel use, the psychological effects of radiation fear and the tsunami itself are the real tragedies for the people of Japan.

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