Creating a scientifically semi-valid super-soldier, part 6: Radiation protection

Previous parts here:

Creating a scientifically semi-valid super-soldier, part 1: Skeleton
Creating a scientifically semi-valid super-soldier, part 2: nervous system
Creating a scientifically semi-valid super-soldier, part 3: Physical shock resistance
Creating a scientifically semi-valid super-soldier, part 4: respiratory system
Creating a scientifically semi-valid super-soldier, part 5: Heart and circulatory system

So you've designed a supercreature for those hard tasks in space. Whether it's a miner, a soldier or something else, they are going to be prone to damage to themselves and their suit. Or you might have a police force that has to deal with a lunatic carrying a particle beam. "No biggie!" you think, "they are designed to take some damage!" Then after a little while the cancers start popping up all over their bodies and they die horrible deaths, or keel over on the spot from acute radiation poisoning.

Don't let that happen to you! Our scientists have found various ways (I hope) to build in radiation protection regardless of that radiation being from space, the scatter of radiation of a particle beam or just some emergency repairs of your local nuclear reactor.

The solutions would need to be buildable, maintainable and repairable by a biological creature. If you know a way you can build a metallic plastic or whatever that fits the bill it's OK.

My own idea's to reduce the effects of radiation: Direct protection. Build in Borium Nitrate Nanotubes (BNNT's, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boron_nitride_nanotube).

BNNT's can be used to protect against various types of radiation (https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/638828main_Thibeault_Presentation.pdf). BNNT's could surround hydrogen which also absorbs some radiation. Unsure of the amount of radiation it can hold. BNNT's could double as insulators for nerves, self-healing blunt-force-trauma absorbtion (see first link) and have a great resistance to heat. (ofcourse, it might not be very reasonable for a biological body to try and build, maintain and repair BNNT's).

The second method of radiation protection would be regeneration. Not sure if it's possible, but life on earth has been able to create new and stable stemcells in their children. If an engineered creature can create brand-new stemcells and force aging or damaged cells to be replaced by the produce of this stemcell, you could periodically renew all cells, keep the body young and repair damage by replacing radiation-damaged cells ASAP to prevent cancer from beginning.

posted almost 6 years ago

Demigan‭

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