Wasps go nuclear!
Radiation and pretty much anything else in science fiction usually results in some kind of giant man-eating being that most likely will end up destroying Tokyo or New York, but this is sadly the real world.
Lack of destruction aside, workers have discovered colonies of wasps that have moved into a nuclear test site in Washington where nuclear devices were tested for their effectiveness.
Since these wasps build their nests out of mud and other organic pieces (which were irradiated from the testing) it seems the wasp have picked up a decent amount of radiation themselves!
It's not in any kind of dose that is likely to be passed to humans enough to kill, but workers still have to remove the insects to continue working - up to thousands of wasps at a time have been buzzing around.
Will these little bugs grow into something like Fallout 3's bloatfly? Only time will tell!
Until then (and the inevitable destruction of all mankind), head over to New Scientist to grab the scoop via i09.
Issue: 133 | February, 2012