Electromagnetic Spectrum - 7 Shades of Light

Various Radiations have Different Effects, each has unique characteristics, and in this post, we'll learn them from an Astronomical perspective. By the way, this is not a physics post as it seems. Still, we will stick to our astronomical concepts and find out what would happen if certain Radiation decreases or increases in the Earth's Atmosphere. Hello and welcome to our blog, CosmicWisdom, where we discuss the Universe and its several aspects in straightforward terms. Without wasting any time, let's get started.

Introduction:

Have you seen the light? Most of you'll say yes. In reality, no one has managed to see it; we only see its effect all around. For example, if you see a glowing light bulb and call it light, then this is just a product of Electrical Discharge and Ionization that make photons release when it gets blocked or interacts with something. We see the object. Well, it is a physical topic, not an astronomical one. So light as we perceive is just a Radiation Between 380 to 780 nanometers, long waves, shorter and longer than are barely visible to humans, but Several animals see and utilize many kinds of Wavelengths. We'll also discuss it after some time.

The Sunlight is made of 7 major colors to human eyes. Whenever they are scattered by any means, you will see those colors but not their light. If you spray water in tiny drops continuously in sunlight, having a perfect angle will generate a rainbow-like effect. Tiny water droplets behave like lenses or glass particles.

When sunlight photons travel through it, they split up in many directions, some of their trajectories bend or just reflect, and appear like a Rainbow from the other side and at the correct angle. You can say water droplets filter the light and extract different kinds of photons with varying wavelengths and frequencies, hence multiple colors at the same time. The same effect does the CD when you put it in normal light and see the Rainbow, but instead of water droplets, it has microscopic reflective grooves that do the work of droplets.

Let's see what the Light actually is?

Let's go back 400 years ago, Newton said light is a Stream of particles that travels in straight line, can be blocked (in shadow formation), go through completely (in Transparent objects), partially (Translucent objects), can be reflected in several directions when they hit any reflective object, They bend while moving between two different densities like Air-water, Water-Glass and many more. Several such observations proved Newton's corpuscular theory of light. Galileo tried to measure the speed of light. This theory was valid until around 200 years ago.

In 1801, Thomas Young experimented. He took a monochromatic light source, a very thin board with two thin slits (about mm wide), and a screen to see the result. With perfect angle and distance, he got multiple shadows, lights passing from just two thin slits. Young explained, if light were a stream of particles, we would get two clear, bright bands. Instead, we get a series of alternating bands and dark spots. 

The Dual Slit Experiment

This was caused when waves cancel out it creating dark bands, while Waves add up it creating bright bands. This was also variable on different wavelengths (color), meaning wider separation in Red color while narrower in blue (shorter wavelengths). Young Argued, if photons were particles screen should have only two bright bars passing one photon through one slit but every photon showed interference pattern As if one photon is passing both slits simultaneously. This wave theory could better explain the light of Reflection, Refraction, Diffraction, Polarization, Scattering, and Dispersion. 

The Slit test Comparison of Red, Green and Blue light

Later found that some metals release Electrons when hit with Ultraviolet light or other Radiation. Since they are ejected when hit by certain radiation or light, these particles were called photoelectrons; hence, this event is known as the photoelectric effect.

A group of Travelling Electromagnetic waves aka the light these individuals are called quanta or energy packets

This observation caused major damage to the well-established wave theory of light. Later in 1905, Albert Einstein explained this phenomenon when a Certain Frequency of light hits the metal with a lower threshold value would emit a photon; therefore, it is a particle. Some Scientists accepted this idea and concluded that Light is both a particle and a Wave.

A Close - up of wave of light moving towards by disturbing Electric and magnetic Fields

According to modern understandings, Light is a wave that is made of particles, and Light doesn't emit continuously from a source but comes out with a particular bundle or packet of energy called quanta. Whose energy depends mainly on Wavelength and frequency. For example, the longer the wavelength, means less energy while shorter wavelengths carry more energy.

Now, let's see their different types and effects in both Human and cosmos perspectives.

1) Radio:

These Radiations have the longest wavelengths, from some 10cm to hundreds of kilometers, and are widely used in communication, spreading information across the globe. All kinds of Communication equipment, like Radio, TV, Radar, Wifi, Mobile phones, FM Radios, and other similar applications, are powered by these Radiations. 

Don't be confused if we say Radio here, it's not the machine that is equipped in your car, but we are talking about a kind of Electromagnetic Radiation that makes such tools work. As we said, its main job is to carry and distribute information from one corner of the world to another. Government authorities allot certain Radio Frequencies and regions for public, private, internet, telecommunication usage, and other applications. Like other Radiations, it has been divided into several subcategories. We have only shown the major ones.

Interactions with matter:

When we exploit its Frequency, Wave phase and amplitudes, they cause oscillation or vibration in charge carriers like electrons in some materials, which is why an Antenna catches these Radio photons. This makes electrons within the antenna oscillate, which generates an electric current, and later on, information is processed by other machines. That's how an antenna works in general. Sometimes, the antenna can be burned or short-circuited due to misfunction or anomaly in Radio transmission by overload. Its main interaction with matter is heating and oscillating in charge carriers. These waves are often generated naturally by AGN (active galactic Nuclei), quasars, and some pulsars.

Biological Usage:

You may wonder why some animals and birds that travel longer distances (Migratory) utilize the Magnetic field of the Earth with the Radio Emissions of either planet or the Sun. Like GPS, they return to their home after travelling many months or Thousands of kilometers. However, this idea is a subject of Research, but it is observed that many animals can feel the Earth the magnetic field with Weak Electromagnetic Signals and can make some use in their ways. Of course, they won't open the GPS app on their mobile.

Imaginary part:

Let's think about what would happen if our sun emits only in the Radio part of the spectrum, if we have the power to perceive the Radio spectrum with our eyes and ears.

Sun as a Radio emitter:

If the sun starts to emit this radiation solely, then Earth would become a snowball due to the low energy carried by Radio photons; Human equipment based on it would be destroyed. Antennas start to melt down due to overload. Our Internet and satellite systems would be useless, and most of them either fall on Earth or wander in space. Plants starve in such situations, animals with eyes or light perceptions will become blind, including humans, and always have to wear night vision Goggles to see objects. The rest of the life would not be harmed that much. In the next subsection, we begin a funny thought experiment.

Radio Wavelengths and Frequencies Perception:

If humans start to feel Radio with their eyes and ears, it would render our lives hell. Let's see how. We can now hear stereo and watch TV or mobile anywhere we want without such tools, but this would be a great obstacle if we want to rest or sit peacefully.

There would be no quiet place in the universe for humans. If you turn on your Wifi or hold your mobile in your pocket or anywhere, you will see long waves going in and out in every direction. You will start to hate such objects. If you look at the towers and antennas, you would barely see the world as we see instead, you will see bands, waves, information, and hear noise everywhere. If you want to know your forgotten password, you won't get even a glimpse because suddenly another piece of information flies before your eyes. When you look in the sky, you will see the Bands, nets, waves covered in multi-layered fabric, and it would be impossible to see the stars, sun, moons, or clouds. You can't drive any vehicle or walk because of those flying things.

Children would ask why these colorful bands and lines are flying everywhere. You will see every face of Facebook, every Video of YouTube, and know what's happening in the world in real-time. It would be a very difficult life, however, if you want to close your eyes, you won't feel peace either, but the noise of all those would not let you rest in any way. 

You wouldn't sleep until your body can't resist the sleepiness. If you are about to sleep in normal conditions, you'll hear the speech of politicians, Radio broadcasts, TV dramas, Movies, News live and recorded coverage, Talk shows, every music and sound on all Stations, Boradcasts of Airplane, Police, ambulances, Fire brigades, military and worse You'll also hear the Radio Hsssss, Fssshsh, whossosisisss noise. Walking somewhere would be like a Web of Radio waves and bands, social media would be flying just before your eyes, now the peace like words would be extinct, can you sleep, or are you a Sleep champion?

Imagine you are trying to sleep and suddenly someone says in your ears, Are you tired of life, Exhausted of trying and selecting life partners? Contact us on our website or come here in our building where we advise on how to choose partners for business, marriage, and companionship. No earplugs would save you from such interruptions. You will surely try to kick or punch this guy, or shout every vulgar word, right? 

It's better that we can't perceive radio, neither its wavelengths nor its frequencies. By the Way, here is the main use of Radio waves in Astronomy. They are often used to detect AGNs because they are powerful sources of Radio. Note that there are many uses, but we are focusing only on one. You can see a slider below this image. If you drag it, it will reveal the Radio emissions of AGN.

Radio Wavelength Visible Light

2) Microwave:

When you hear this word, you may think of the Microwave oven, but actually, an Oven Uses this Radiation to cook food. These photons carry more energy than Radio waves and heat the object, which is why they are mainly used in ovens and such cookers. 

There are some Radios and telecommunication systems as well, which use these waves. Besides, there are many Natural sources, CMB or Cosmic microwave background, considered as a Remnant of the Big Bang, Some Pulsars and Magnetars also emit this Radiation, Solar Flares and CMEs, Our Sun Naturally emits all kinds of radiation. On Earth, lightning is also a source. Our atmosphere emits weak Microwaves as a result of Molecular interactions. However, these radiations are mostly blocked by Earth's atmosphere.

Microwaves are often absorbed by some liquids, which causes their molecules to rotate rapidly, which further increases the heat of the liquid. Some Microwave Radiation is also used in WiFi, but its Heating effect is almost nothing. It's a widely used application called the Microwave oven, which cooks food by Volumetric heating instead of classical heat flow. Normally, you hold edible stuff in a bowl, turn on the heat source then the surrounding Air's temperature increases first. It reaches the bowl's bottom by convection, spreads through Conduction in the bowl, and convection occurs again. If there is water that gets hot and finally the heat flows inside the food, it becomes ready to eat after some time. But a Microwave just gets inside the food and transmits the heat equally. It also depends on the food's composition, moisture, and other factors.

Biological Importance:

Some insects, like Bees, can react to Microwaves and change their Hive activities and behavior. Some reptiles can absorb environmental heat for warmth, including Microwaves. Animals that live near comm towers or Radar installations may experience High Radiation Exposure, which can change their physical activities over time. That's why such installations are even though useful for humans, but Dangerous for them even for us. What do you think? Let us know down below in the comment section.

Imaginary Scenario:

If the Sun were to start emitting only Microwaves, it would be a nightmare for Earthlings. Our Earth would turn into a Giant Oven planet where Water would be boiling and evaporating slowly. Plants will die due to starvation because Photosynthesis would not be possible. We'll be cooked from in and outside, but our planet would be fine only difference would be a lack of life forms.

3) Infrared or IR:

This is much familiar type of radiation which we perceive as heat. Look at your palm, do you see any kind of light coming from your entire hand or body? Or just touch where you were sitting or sleeping, you will feel some warmth, that's the infrared. If you look through infrared goggles, you will see the heat.

It is one of the most commonly used radiation by the biological Realm, Technology, and other human applications. The night vision goggles, Light bulbs with automatic on/off capabilities, use this method, in which its sensor catches IR from the human body, and when you open the door or enter in room, the bulb will automatically turn on. Some other Security equipment also uses it. There are numerous appliances of this Radiation. They are crucial tools for detecting Brown dwarfs, Protostars, exoplanets, and other things that become obscured by gas and dust.

Biological Importance:

Some snakes like Boas, Pit viper, and pythons use heat to track signals. IR also helps in regulating the Metabolic rates of animals and plants.

Imaginary Scenario:

If IR were to become the primary Emitted Radiation product of the Sun, all animals that use it as vision would be blind due to overexposure, for example. Pythons would not be able to see the temperature difference between the common IR Background and the prey's IR emissions, and become blind probably never come outside from the burrow, only go for a hunt at night if they can, because Infrared's second name is Heat. So on Earth, the temperature would simply increase. Humans will become blind because their eyes can't detect these wavelengths, or always wear Infrared goggles.

In this image below, just slide the left side to see the Baby stars, which are shining in IR light.

IR Visible

4) Visible Radiation:

These wavelengths are staples for visualizing radiation in Most animals with decent or advanced eyesight. We perceive it from 780 to 380 nanometers. If you arrange them in one place, you will see the rainbow, which contains 7 colors. Among them, there are hundreds of subtypes, each representing a certain wavelength. It is widely used in Bars, Clubs, Traffic signals, Neon lights, Vehicles, and other applications where colors matter most. Besides entertainment and daily life usage, Scientists use it in spectroscopy, especially with chemicals. In astronomy, the combined efforts of chemistry, physics, and other sciences it is used to create false-color based multiwavelength images that humans can't even imagine. Such images you are seeing in this post right now we designed for a hypothetical scenario where various parts of EMR usage are shown, we assigned certain colors for certain wavelengths and frequencies based on true data.

Biological Importance:

The plants have specific chlorophyll systems to sense Blue light around 400 nm and 700 nm Red light from the sunlight, basically (You can do your lighting). Their pigment system's electrons get excited then a very complex method takes place. In the presence of Water, Carbon dioxide, and Nitrogen,  they create Carbohydrates and use them for their vital activities, while extra Carbs are stored as cellulose. That is what herbivorous animals, insects, and different organisms eat and extract other nutrients from the body parts of plants and store them as Glycogen. Carnivores eat these animals to eat their preserved Nutrients and Glycogens, which are further decomposed by bacteria when they die, and Nitrogen Mixes in the soil, then another plant grows from such a place. Therefore, it is said that Plants are universal food creators.

In the human eye, Radiation goes there, some are reflected by the shiny layer of tears and liquids, while some are absorbed by the Dark portion (Iris). The size of the pupil (a little hole that expands or shrinks depending on the intensity of light) ensures how much Radiation should enter the inside of the eye. There's a convex lens in this aperture which focuses the light on the back inner side of your eyeball, called the Retina. This layer has 120 Million Rod cells and 6 Million Cone cells. Rods are made of Vitamin A and Protein, which help us to see in the Dark or dim light, while 60% of Cones are used to sense 600 - 700 nm (Red), 30% 500 - 565 nm (Green), and 10% 380 - 485 nm (Blue). If an object's light is reflecting and entering our eye, and the 500 nm receptor is excited, this signal will be further carried out in our optical nerves to the occipital lobe of our brain, where it will render this object as green. You now know why we can't see UV or IR without proper equipment?

Not only that, if we have problems with Color receptors of certain wavelengths, Faulty neurons, or some issues in the occipital lobe, we simply won't recognize that color and become color blind, like we are blind to UV and other radiation. In that case, the fake colors are assigned to simulate Real colors. For example, some modern video games use false colors to simulate colors like Blood, water, sky, or anything for people with color-related problems; these are called color blind modes.

Don't think all animals perceive colors like us; they have their different color maps, like certain species see mostly red, while some can't see red, but they'll perceive it as a different color. So every animal with eyes has different and appropriate color maps. It depends on its behavior and nature, like Nocturnal animals lack various colors, only focus on night vision, while diurnal species have vast numbers of colors to recognize, like ripe fruits, Flowers with nectar, green and dry grass, predators' coloration, and much more.

5) Ultraviolet or UV:

You may have heard about this radiation due to many hypes in social media, news, climate change, and recent diseases like sunburn and cataracts. This radiation holds a significant importance in our lives, our planetary weather, health, and the solar system's fate. Let's their Roles in different fields.

Biological Importance:

Many species on Earth use this radiation to complete their necessary tasks. Let's talk about them. Birds like Ospreys and Kingfishers use the UV rays to Track fish in water because Ultraviolet light can go deep inside water and reflect. Bees use it to find nectar in flowers. Humans use it to kill microscopic animals or Bacteria from surgical tools, insect-killing lamps use a low amount of UVC, and in the field of Genetic engineering, it can be used to promote intentional mutation since it can change the Structure of Genes. 

Atmospheric Importance:

In the Earth's Atmosphere, UV Rays help produce Ozone and oxygen through chains of photochemical Reactions, in general, around 20 - 60 Km altitude. There is a layer of oxygen and other gases; this zone is called the Stratosphere. In this fog of atmospheric gases, Oxygen molecules break apart into atoms by UV from sunlight, creating free-floating atoms that collide with other oxygen atoms and form Ozone molecules. This process can absorb some of the dangerous UV Wavelengths. This whole cycle repeats, and it has been continued for Billions of years and protecting us from the Sun's UV Radiation. Due to technical advancement, Gases like Freon, which is used in refrigerators and Air conditioners, also harm the stratosphere. Now our Earth's Stratosphere is taking damage from both the Outer and inner sides. Thanks to many international government programs that are trying to lower Air pollution.

Now, let's try to think if our sun mainly emits Ultraviolet Radiation. Well, its total Radiation output of the photosphere only consists of 3% UV Wavelengths, which is not a magnificent number, right? Now think this 3% is responsible for numerous changes, like we didn't have Cancers before the 60s, we were not scared of going in the sunlight, and we were living a healthy life till death.

Now, the Industrial era came and it brought a massive improvement, but after 60s we had a row of new issues, most of which you know already. After this period, we let our guard down by spreading harmful chemicals in the sky, which went into the stratosphere and depleted the ozone layer. Welcome to the weak ozone shield age, where we have almost an ill body after the 40s, a small percentage of them are caused by different radiations like Wi-Fi, Radio, UV, TV, and other technological radiation-based applications.

UVAs are the weakest wavelengths, which have little to no side effects. UVBs can mutate our cells dangerously that they may turn into cancerous cells that defy the body's systems. Since the Ozone layer has weakened, the UVB is more concentrated over the years in our Atmosphere, and we face it with different mutated diseases. Sunburn and Cataract are effects of damaged cells by UVB, while Cancer occurs when even a single cell is mutated by various factors, and UVB is one of them. It is also worth considering that films often show that mutations are beneficial after a painful process, but real-life Mutations in large animals are mostly painful and generate several malfunctions, leading to suffering and a painful life before death. So, never hope for a Mutation, you are fine already.

What if the Sun emitted UV Mainly?

In the last subsection, we discussed UVA and UVB but left the most dangerous UVCs, which are often blocked by the Ozone layer and other atmospheric activities. This radiation has to come if nature has to finish the current Living kingdom on the earth. If we think our Sun starts to emit UV Rays mainly next minute, it would be the worst nightmare. All 7 Kingdoms of life will suffer the Annihilation of the Great Sun, living beings surface and near the surface of water would feel immense burning from light alone. 

The temperature can be 20 - 30 Celsius, but everyone will face huge incineration by UV Rays. Nobody will see anything because their fragile eyes will lose their sight, and everyone will feel like they are running on the campfire. Outer skins would be scorched, then animals would burn alive, and the same would happen with plants; it would set a fire on grasslands and forests. The Mariner living world would face the same tragedy; they will burn inside the water as deep as the Sun's deadly rays go inside. Burrowing and deep-sea animals will not suffer this massacre initially, but they will also start to die from starvation because most of their food and prey come from the surface's flora and fauna.

Who knows, Water and soil can change their behavior by the Ionizing Character of UVs, so UV-contaminated water can be a toxin or cause several damages to our tissues, or Soil can be harmful to us if we walk on it naked feet. They can also be dangerous to plants and other animals. Some studies show that this event happened after the Gamma Ray burst Strike on Earth, it removed the shielding of the Atmosphere of the Earth, then the Sun killed about 90% of species at that time, Sea animals and plants, especially when the land life was not in trend. However, if this happens nowadays, we can live in underground cities or in deep waters where no sunlight reaches.

In this image, you need to slide right side and see the Unseen AGN Activity, which is regulating Star formation in its Galaxy.

Visible Ultraviolet

6) X-Rays

Now, you may have heard it in terms of Medical glossaries. Well, we are talking about the same X-rays, not how they are generated on Earth, but their Importance and effects on our life and universe. Do not be surprised if you find X-rays in the cosmos rather than X-ray tubes because Mother Nature is much cleverer than scientists. Before all these Radiations had been observed, it was thought that these radiations (except Visible) were man-made, but later observations revealed that there are all kinds of radiations in space, with tremendous amounts that scientists will never be able to produce that quantity. That's why our universe has nothing less than us. The only things in smaller amounts are the signature of life because of our current technological limitations.

These X-rays are totally invisible to human eyes, but their effects are recognizable. For example, If you put your hand on a specific type of film and there is an X ray source, It will do some photochemical magic with that specific foil and make an image but X ray light had to go through your hand so its photon will easily cross your cells, veins and soft tissues but it will absorbed by Calcium containing structures meaning Bones, and some ligaments and cartilages so this part will not be visible and create Exactly the gap As your skeleton was at that time. That's how Medical Radiography Scan works, in medical terms, Radiography means taking a screenshot in X-ray Radiation on specific films, these processed films are called Radiographs. You can further use that radiograph's black non-medical examined parts to watch Solar eclipses through it. You will find amazing scenery, just like we did in our childhood.

Astronomical origins:

In the cosmos, not everything can produce X-rays and Gamma Rays as compared to other EMRs. These powerful photon streams originate in high-energy zones like Stellar cores, Supernovae, Pulsars, Magnetars, and Black holes' Accretion disks and AGNs mainly.

Let's see briefly how these objects generate X-rays by their methods. Stellar cores are highly energized zones where nuclear fusion takes place. However, in most cases, X-rays don't directly produce; instead, they are mal-nutritioned Gamma rays which can't directly escape due to high densities and are absorbed by surrounding molecules, then re-emitted as slightly weaker gamma rays, then again absorbed by another molecule, then again emitted as even weaker gamma rays. You may wonder, our sun produces gamma rays in the core, but it takes around 600,000 Years to become X-rays by constantly weakening by molecules. You may also think of them as trying to crocodile into a house lizard.

Sometimes, our sun emits directly from the photosphere when Solar flares shine, such massive explosion that directly ejects X-ray photons, which would take hundreds of thousands of years to escape as normal light. Sometimes these ejections also exhibit gamma rays.

Supernova is the most energetic event in a Massive Star's life. The entire stellar system explodes like a giant bomb, emitting all kinds of radiation, and it also includes unfused layers. All these become a nebula extending many light years while the core becomes either a neutron star or a black hole, depending on the star's mass. Pulsars are also known for emitting all kinds of EMRs. There is a specific kind of pulsar called X-ray pulsars. These are usually found in Binary systems of Neutron Star + common star, when Neutron star sucks material from its partner by immense gravity, Accretion disk forms and produce X-rays.

Since we are looking at X-ray emission mechanisms so Neutron stars are not the topic of this post; we'll discuss them in a dedicated article, so for now, you should know that various types of Neutron stars generate X-rays with different methods.

Magnetars are specific types of Neutron stars. If a Neutron star has a 1000 times stronger magnetic field than a regular one, it will be called a Magnetar. Since such powerful magnetic fields harm the Neutron star itself, it can cause Cracks on the crust and release massive bursts of X-rays and Gamma rays, sometimes both. Its strong magnetic field is also unstable, it can X- Rays energy through accelerating surrounding particles or sometimes change the light's behavior itself. 

A black hole accretion disk also does the same thing: it accelerates the passing particle and heats aggressively, and produces X-rays. While AGNs Usually emit all kinds of EMRs, by their violent nature like their super massive black hole sucks dust and gas or sometimes various Stars at the same. It forms a massive Ejection of Energy, which we see as galactic jets or bubbles. Like the one we have in our own Milky Way, about 30,000 light years both up and down.

Imaginary Scenario:

Let's talk about what would happen if our sun started to emit X-rays instead of Visible light? First sun would disappear in the biological eyes, because there is no sensor in the retina to interact with X-ray Photons. In this eternal darkness, the X-photons will remove the atmosphere by ionizing at a higher speed than UV photons. It would change the Global chemistry mechanism and render the Earth into an alien planet or like some Exoplanets near a Neutron Star. Meaning, Rock, Soil, Sand, Water, and Air would not that what we see and know in the earth, it would be completely different chemical composition, hence it may also happen if you walk in such sand, your soles' skin would start to degrade. From a biological perspective, the plants, cyanobacteria, Chromista, Archaea, Fungi, and Viruses, the Animal kingdom, Nothing will survive in this environment even the Extremophiles which are famous for living in the most brutal conditions. Organisms that live through Hydrothermal vents also die because the Entire ocean would have a corrupted chemical composition due to Immense X-rays. It will damage tissues and wipe out the entire Living beings in a few days.

Before ending our X-ray chapter, here's an image of a Supernova Remnant and when you drag the slider right, you'll see a Magnetar emitting tremendous X-ray Radiation.

Visible X-ray

7) Gamma Rays:

Now, this is our Final chapter of the exploration of 7 Radiations. The Light that never knows making, only destruction, is in behaviour. Wherever they travel, only demolition follows. These are the most energetic form of radiation and are mostly generated by Powerful events like Nukes, Stellar Core, Neutron Star, Dying Star, Radio Galaxy, Seyfert Galaxy, Quasar and if a Black hole finishes a Star.

You may be thinking that If These radiations are just invisible rays, can we reflect them with a mirror like we do with Visible light? well, Visible light has a range of 380nm to 780 nm wavelengths, while ionizing radiation (UV, X-ray, and Gamma ray) have much shorter wavelengths, where Gamma photons are the shortest.

Let's come back to the mirror. As soon as the UV photons hit the mirror's surface, some of them can be absorbed, some will scatter, and some will ionize So there's a chance of reflection. Whereas X-ray photons will easily penetrate the surface, some will ionize, meaning eject electrons from the ingredient chemicals of the mirror. So you can't reflect the X-rays. Gamma rays will also penetrate the mirror more than X-rays and can change the mirror's behavior, meaning it may be a toxic substance or just become black or break into pieces or anything that we can't predict. Therefore, film style Mirror shield won't work in real scenarios.

These gamma-ray photons carry tremendous energy that can tear apart atoms and change their overall chemistry. Even though These Radiations are used in Cancer treatment but they destroy the corrupted DNA and cells. As we said earlier, Gamma rays don't know how to compose but destroy better than anything.

Astronomical Origins:

Gamma Rays are mostly produced in high-energy zones like Stellar cores, where Hydrogen nuclei meet with other hydrogen nuclei and produce Helium Nuclei. Gamma rays and Neutrinos are emitted as byproducts. Just like if you hit a hammer on a fragile object, the sound, some heat, and fragments are also produced. Gamma rays have to fight their long and hard way to the photosphere, and they are born in high-density zones. it wouldn't be an easy task to travel to the photosphere.

They get absorbed by surrounding molecules, and it takes some hundred thousand years to reach the convection zone or middle layer of the star. That's why Stars don't directly emit Gamma rays; they have to process and convert them into weak photons like UV or Visible. Some exceptional conditions, like Stellar flares, CMEs, and magnetic line disruptions, can produce Gamma rays directly. Some Specific Neutron stars also produce it and we have explained this phenomenon in the X-ray Section.

Sometimes in space, huge outbursts of Gamma Rays can occur, known as gamma-ray bursts and this happens at least once in 24 hours. Such events are cataloged as GRB (Gamma Ray burst). Various reasons initiate it and we have discussed most of them in the previous Sections. Gamma-ray bursts usually last from about 1 second to some minutes. Neutron stars can emit gamma rays for just a few minutes in pulses. There are more powerful entities that sustain Gamma ray emission, as our Sun constantly shines in Visible light, Think about how powerful these objects would be that emit like a light bulb or a common star? Powerful neutron stars can only produce it in pulses or for some minutes to hours, but AGNs like quasars shine in gamma rays for Billions of years nonstop. That makes them the universe's most powerful objects.

Imaginary Scenario:

Now let's see what would happen if our Sun doesn't process the Gamma Rays, meaning it doesn't convert Crocodiles into small house lizards instead, let them travel the gamma photons as soon as they are produced. It would be a worst nightmare for Earthlings as always, Most effects will be like X-rays, but here we talk about the consequences that X-rays can't. So, it will try to erupt the soil layer too, which X-rays won't. Rocks start to melt, the Atmosphere will quickly vanish like fog and the ocean will not only Ionize but also evaporate. Earth may become a volcanic world where lava will flow in rivers, accumulate in oceans like an ocean of Lava and Rocks would soften and gradually lava would also start to disappear or change its behavior due to the ionizing nature of Gamma rays. Earth and other planets will still be Fine, they won't explode like bombs.

Here, In this image you'll see the Boring looking AGN how changes completely in the Gamma rays.

Visible γ-ray

In the End:

In this below image, you can see there are 7 Checkpoints, and you can slide the pointer to see the corresponding image. Here, Radio Shows the AGN Lobes and interaction with interstellar gas and dust. The microwave image will reveal the Cold zones outside the AGN, re-emitting the Microwave radiation. In Infrared, you'll discover the Stellar formation zones where stars are being born in the large clouds of gas and dust. Visible light shows you the common stars and hot stars (O and B), nurseries and fields. 

Ultraviolet light will show you the Ionized gas reservoirs near the AGN and outside, you'll see hot Young stars that have recently left the Protostar phase and as well as O, B and A-like Star fields. In X-rays, you won't see the Galactic spiral disk; instead, you see the dominant emission from the AGN, which has faded the combined X-ray radiation from all the Neutron Stars and stellar mass black holes. In gamma Rays, you'll see the Galactic Radiation again due to its interaction with the Spiral Arms interstellar medium that glows in gamma rays, while you can see the AGN is always brighter in all 7 Radiations.

Radio MW IR Visible UV X‑ray Gamma

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