Cancer Rates Rise and Fall with Cosmic Rays

Cancer is a mysterious and complicated disease, with many different types and causes. Researchers are still trying to track down all of the environmental effects that can lead to the disease, as anything from what someone eats to where they live determines the probability of developing cancer. A recent paper published in The International Journal of Astrobiology looked at data for cancer deaths from around the world for the past 140 years, and found a strong correlation between rises in cancer deaths and the amount of cosmic rays emitted by the Sun.
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Filed Under: Astronomy • Contributors