This list consists of species that have been tested by scientists for their ability to withstand radiation. None of them are mammals – the larger the creature’s size, the less chance of survival.

who will survive

• Sleeping chironomid. Animals that can survive without water tend to cope well with radiation. This pattern is seen in many extremophiles, which is the official term for animals that can withstand conditions that can be fatal to most organisms. One such extremophile is the chironomid fly, also known as Polypedilum vanderplanki. The larvae of this fly are deposited in shallow reservoirs in parts of semi-arid Africa and survive even as these reservoirs dry up. In this dry state, flies can withstand other stressors such as gamma rays with remarkable success.

Polypedilum nubifer / Photograph: CBG Photography Group, Center for Biodiversity Genomics

• nematodes. these creatures they are as small as they are numerous. They can withstand high doses of gamma radiation. This ability is related to the radioactive isotope they contain. However, some radiation can cause reproductive problems, so in a nuclear world they may not win in a final showdown.
• scorpions. Numerous experiments in the 1960s tested the ability of scorpions to cope with radiation exposure. They turned out to be good candidates. Some species can withstand exposure to more than 50,000 x-rays. Like other extremophiles, for example, scorpions can freeze and survive, and invertebrates can easily tolerate ultraviolet radiation.
• cockroaches. These unpleasant creatures can withstand radiation almost 12 times better than a human. However, they cannot be called indestructible.
• Deinococcus radiodurans. This is a tiny bacterium first discovered in canned meat. It is 1875 times more resistant to radiation than a human.

Photomicrograph of Deinococcus radiodurans / Photograph: Michael Daly/Uniformed Services University

• quiet walkers. Hypsibius dujardini entered the scientific discourse only a few years ago, but since then they have not ceased to be surprising. These microscopic animals survive in very extreme conditions and can be found everywhere – they will even survive in space. Just as insects can repair DNA, water bears can reduce threats. This is due to their ability to regenerate cells after dehydration, as do hibernating chironomid larvae. In October, it was discovered that this species has radiation protection that makes them even more resistant than nematodes.
• Thermococcus gammatolerance. The most resistant organism to radioactive radiation. It works well with gamma radiation, reducing the extent of DNA damage caused by radiation and repairing damaged chromosomes. In 2003, organisms found in hydrothermal vents in the Gulf of California were exposed to massive radiation, 3,750 times more than a person could withstand. After that, they not only died, but continued to grow.

Thermococcus gammatoleran / Photo: Angels Tapias