by Nsikan Akpan
One day, space explorers might stroll along the red rocks of Mars. But radiation exposure during the trip may wipe away their memories of home.
A new report says that cosmic rays can change the physical architecture of the mind’s nerves, harming the brain regions that govern memory.
Cosmic rays, comprised of high-speed atomic particles, blanket the Milky Way galaxy. The radiation constantly bombards our planet, but the Earth’s magnetic field and its atmosphere save us from the most dangerous rays.
People who venture into deep space aren’t so lucky, as cosmic rays can easily penetrate a spaceship’s metallic hull or a space helmet. So before NASA sends anyone into deep space, they want to figure out the possible long-term ramifications of exposure to cosmic radiation.
One item of concern is radiation-induced memory loss, says cancer researcher Charles Limoli of the University of California Irvine, who led the report published May 1 in Science Advances. Cancer radiotherapy can impair human memory and spawn dementia, which is what drew Limoli’s team to the research.
“Upon penetrating the body, these charged particles leave tracks of damage on the same scale as neurons,” Limoli said. “So we reasoned that [cosmic] irradiation might elicit long lasting structural changes in neurons that would lead to cognitive impairment.”
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Question
Use the excerpts to answer the question. Select Passage 1 and Passage 2.
Based on the excerpts, how do the goals of the authors compare?
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Responses
Like the first excerpt, the goal of the author of the second excerpt is to compare and contrast the experiences of astronauts.
Like the first excerpt, the goal of the author of the second excerpt is to compare and contrast the experiences of astronauts.
Unlike the first excerpt, the goal of the author of the second excerpt is to present opposing views on a neutral effect of space travel.
Unlike the first excerpt, the goal of the author of the second excerpt is to present opposing views on a neutral effect of space travel.
Like the first excerpt, the goal of the author of the second excerpt is to challenge widely accepted views of cosmic radiation.
Like the first excerpt, the goal of the author of the second excerpt is to challenge widely accepted views of cosmic radiation.
Unlike the first excerpt, the goal of the author of the second excerpt is to offer a solution to a significant issue.
Unlike the first excerpt, the goal of the author of the second excerpt is to offer a solution to a significant issue.
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1 answer
Based on the provided excerpts, the best comparison of the goals of the authors would be:
Like the first excerpt, the goal of the author of the second excerpt is to challenge widely accepted views of cosmic radiation.
Both excerpts aim to highlight the potential dangers of cosmic radiation, particularly regarding its impact on human health, specifically the brain and memory in the context of space travel.
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