Mutants at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Myths about Chernobyl mutants

A quarter of a century later, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant has become an area accessible to tourists, experts and researchers. Separate study tours are also conducted for guests from abroad who want to learn more than what is written in the media. What motivates people to come here? Many of them are primarily interested not in creepy city views, but in the mutants of Chernobyl.

After the Chernobyl accident, the radioactive cloud scattered for many kilometers. And, as the researchers note, the area was unevenly infected. There are areas that are particularly heavily contaminated.

The most infected are the northwestern region of Ukraine and the southeastern region of Belarus. Here the soil contains small amounts of potassium and calcium. Radioactive cesium-137 and strontium-90, which reacted with the soil, took up the free space of the depleted elements, and the soil, accordingly, transferred its elements to the plants. Radioactive metals have become a kind of “fertilizer” for flora. Accordingly, the mutation of animals in Chernobyl also occurred from infected plants.

It should be noted that in the first years after the accident, the plants grew to unprecedented sizes. This applied to both wild and commercial crops, which actually had the highest yields. This fact contributed to the development of different interpretations of the phenomenon of radioactivity.

According to radiologists, the most dangerous zone in Chernobyl is the zone called "". Which is believed to have had the largest amount of precipitation containing radioactive elements. And it is there, according to biologists, that the greatest manifestations of mutation in animals and plants are possible.

Today, almost everyone can see it with their own eyes; all they have to do is come to the station as part of an approved group. However, most people live by speculation and misconceptions. As a result, various kinds of rumors are breeding.

This is not surprising, because many things in the Exclusion Zone still keep their secrets. And it is they who become the reason for myths. This is how a person works, everything that is “somewhere out there” has “something like that”...

Animal mutants of Chernobyl - what science says

World science does not yet have evidence that it is radiation that is the source of direct mutations among animal populations. The fact is that all life on the planet is exposed to solar radiation in its natural manifestation. And natural radiation values ​​vary from place to place. There is more of it in the mountains than on the plains.

Scientists are also looking at cell-sized organisms that are invisible to the human eye. And this is also a kind of “animal” only of extremely small size. If you simply magnify the image of a normal cell 1000 times, you will see a terrible “monster”. Although in fact all organisms on the planet consist of them.

The difficulty is that mutations at the micro level are more difficult to explain and trace. Remember that from a scientific point of view, terms such as mutation and radiation are considered in the context of the evolutionary process.

Scientists influence chromosomes and their life cycles in various ways under the influence of radiation and study the phenomena under a microscope. Everything is recorded and entered into the general system of observations of the material being studied. In science, everything must be systematized and catalogued.

According to scientists, in order for mutation as a process to take place, significant changes had to occur at the level of the cell’s DNA. For example, such when the functioning of the reproductive system of animals would be changed.

At this time, no direct mutations have been detected in the observed generations. Therefore, there are no predictions regarding the future of “monster diversity” from scientific institutions.

It is worth noting that laboratory experiments can last for years. Some experiments last for 10 years or more. And observation of fauna and flora after the bombing is still taking place.

Whiskers, paws and myths

After the disaster, rumors began to spread about unusual events happening to animals. They were so improbable that they attracted more and more attention from the population.

Really, really? This is the question that citizens asked themselves while reading fables in the press. But even debunking by biologists did not completely satisfy them. “What if they don’t say something and hide the whole truth?” the townspeople shared their doubts among themselves.

Is it true that there are mutants in Chernobyl? Is it true that there are mice with five legs, hares with three eyes and boars that glow in the dark? Are there plants of unprecedented size within the zone? Meter-long mushrooms and water lilies that a person can walk on? Maybe apples grow bigger than watermelons?

Although no one has seen this with their own eyes, the interest itself does not fade away. After all, I really want something like this to exist. Mystery is attractive.

Well, people's craving for sensations is not satisfied by a scientific explanation of what is happening. In the minds of housewives, the animals of Chernobyl are mutants. That's all, period. That's how it should be. Otherwise, something incredible disappears from the stories.

It is said that there was once a mysterious museum that featured mutants in Chernobyl. The exhibition allegedly included stuffed animals from. However, for some unknown reason, these stuffed animals disappeared somewhere.

Reliable filming or photos that show obvious deviations from biological norms have not yet been presented. There are hundreds of photo montages circulating online that are more likely to reflect people’s moods than reality.

Yes, of course, there are cases of animals being born with physical abnormalities. However, the frequency of their birth corresponds to a certain percentage of mutations occurring in nature. And it should be noted that this applies to individual individuals.

In addition, mutants do not live long in Chernobyl. There is no direct evidence of the viability of individual individuals with obvious physiological abnormalities. In general, as biologists joke, there are mutants at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, there are three-headed hares and huge ants, but they camouflage themselves very skillfully.

Mutants in the head

The colorful reports of animal mutations have mainly three main sources. It was they who formed the general idea in the form that is known to us now. Let's see where it all began.

The first sign was released by the “yellow press,” which richly filled its materials with all kinds of fables. This started a long time ago, back in the 90s. But to this day, no, no, but in some publication there will be a “sensation” that the mutant animals of Chernobyl have done a lot of trouble on the plot of a lonely self-settler.

There is, in general, a simple explanation for this. The fact is that in the 1990s, interest in mysticism and esotericism sharply manifested itself. And the topic, in which all sorts of monsters were present, occupied the minds of millions of citizens. Everything was new. And even older brothers frightened their younger sisters with stories about Chernobyl cats taking little children into the forest if they didn’t fall asleep right away.

Over time, the baton of fables was taken up by computer game developers and even Hollywood film directors. Here the scale is more interesting. Just imagine, you press the enter key of the game "Closed Zone", and there it is, a computer storytelling arena. Your task as a player is to confront fanged chickens and aggressive piglets with wings.

And, of course, the very development of personal means of storing information and communication allowed myths to settle in the form of photographs and videos in millions of smartphones and posts on social networks.
There are still videos posted (though of deliberately low quality) about supposedly fully living animals with obvious deviations from natural forms.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW:

Mutants of Chernobyl in a fairy tale

On the rubble, near a cheerfully crackling fire, looking at the sunset of the red disk of the sun, local residents and their regular guests sat. The company sipped tea together and had intimate conversations. Everything was like in a fairy tale.

Are there Chernobyl mutants?
In order to dilute the conversation with something unusual, the hosts decided to terrify the guests with local tales. “What, dear guests, what do you think: do mutants exist in Chernobyl?” the head of the family asked mischievously. “And all the townspeople say is that there are mutants in Chernobyl.” - But how is it really? Who knows?

“Mutants of Chernobyl,” said the owner, “They live here now. They have their own forms of behavior that are different from ordinary animals. Their habitat has undergone significant changes. The mutants in Chernobyl do not know the active invasion of man and still trust him.”

The guests shuddered.

“Is something going on that we don’t know about? — After slowly straightening the logs in the fire with a stick, the owner stretched and answered mysteriously: “Well, how can I say... Anything can happen.

For example, take a look at aquatic creatures. Do you know that mutant catfish near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant have learned to speak human language with the station employees who regularly feed them? What ichthyologist knows about this?

Meanwhile, these conversations are very popular among station workers. It is known that this is not simple communication, but a whole course of psychotherapy, which helps alleviate loneliness and restore the mental balance of staff. As you can see, the mutants of Pripyat help people in their hard work. Well, of course, working with an atom is not a simple matter.

Mutants in Chernobyl, that’s why they are mutants, because they are very different from ordinary animals and fish. And that means not all the stories are fiction about them, not all,” the local old-timer answered, nodding his head affirmatively.

Chernobyl mutants with superpowers

Just now my neighbor Mikhalych told me that in a clearing he saw a wild boar playing Beethoven’s sixth symphony on an accordion. “It’s implausible, you’ll agree,” said the owner.

“Oh, well, your Mikhalych has completely bent,” the guests answered with a smile. “I mean the same thing,” the interlocutor replied. - Well, tell me, where did Mikhalych hear about Beethoven!... Yes, he hasn’t read books since he was born. But the mutants in Chernobyl are creatures with mysterious abilities.”

“For example, take roe deer. These are perhaps the most graceful mutants of Chernobyl. They, due to continuously received doses of radiation, became completely different. As experts say, one of them developed superpowers. Now, on a full moon, she taps gold coins with her hoof like a fairy-tale doe. Don’t you believe it?”

The guests shook their heads from side to side: “We don’t believe it.” “Eh,” the owner of the house groaned and took out a bag from his bosom. “Well, look.” And he poured several sparkling coins into his palm in front of the stunned guests. He raised his palm to the fire: “This is pure red gold!”

The guests looked at each other, and one of them asked hesitantly: “What, mutants of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant
capable of this? Gold coins - just like that? Incredible!

“This is so difficult to accept,” the owner of the house confirmed with agreement in his voice. — Scientists say one thing, they do all sorts of experiments, analyses, you know. But we live here and see that the animals—the mutants of Chernobyl—have gone far from established scientific ideas.”

“Get to work! - the guests said in surprise and admiration at the same time. “Well, you give it.” “So what are you doing with your house, can’t you build a new one?” asked one of the guests. “Otherwise your home... It needs some repairs.”

“There’s no need for me to run the house,” the owner answered in a hoarse voice. “I, too, am a mutant of Chernobyl,” he said and fiercely attacked the frightened guests with a wolfish ask and eyes filled with hot blood.

“Mutants in Chernobyl and mutants in Pripyat - all come to me! I have excellent prey,” the Chernobyl mutant, who just a minute ago was in a human body, roared loudly. And his fangs turned red...

Moral of the story

The mutants that appeared in Chernobyl can be very kind-looking. However, looking cute does not mean harmless. Therefore, if you decide to go to the Chernobyl zone, a Colt .45 caliber and loaded silver bullets into the drum will not hurt you. If the Chernobyl nuclear power plant mutants behave aggressively, you will have a real chance to defeat them.

Chernobyl - animal mutants: simply not so

Of course, over time, the situation around Chernobyl is gradually changing. The actual lifetime of an entire generation has passed. Thirty years is an impressive period. Something began to be perceived completely differently.

Those children who were still in diapers at the time of the accident grew up. The direct participants in the liquidation have aged. The flora and fauna of the region have changed.

Knowledge about becomes “fluid”. Each person, one way or another, interprets this story in his own way. Some lively, some cool. And someone is not interested in her at all.

In fact, this man-made disaster has challenged many people and society as a whole. Radioactive contamination of the area led to consequences that can only now, decades later, be assessed from different perspectives.

The fallout of radioactive elements into water and soil contributed to the formation of new ecological connections on a local scale. The influence of new elements on animals and plants is being studied by scientists. These are complex processes.

After all, we are little familiar with atomic energy. Yes, scientists know how to extract energy from an atom. Yes, they know how to control the course of a thermonuclear reaction. But how the atom behaves after the destruction of technical systems is simply unknown. Just imagine: the half-life of some radioactive elements is thousands of years!

The only and, perhaps, the most objective tool in assessing the consequences of an accident is science. Based on knowledge of biology and evolution, scientists build their arguments and hypothesize about causes. In their interpretation, the phrase “Chernobyl mutant animals” is rather a matter of clear formulations, rather than idle speculation of ordinary people.

They study mutations at all levels of organization of a living organism. Starting at the cellular level, scientists set up experiments and conduct various tests. It is important for them to understand the causal mechanisms of radiation exposure.

“There is no smoke without fire!”

Scientists' perception of the Chernobyl reality is rather an approach for conducting scientific research. An approach that should answer many questions. After all, it is important to understand the consequences of the accident in the long term for the livelihoods of future generations.

The burning topic of animal mutation lives in completely different ideas. This topic is occupied by both ordinary people and specialists. And of course, there are adventurers who, working for their reputation, crave sensations. Chernobyl mutants - why not?

Mythical ideas about mutants in Chernobyl have become an integral part of folklore. From time to time, “secret photographs” of monsters from secret laboratories appear in the press. Headlines of articles “Chernobyl - mutants” from boring journalists leave no room for doubt in the minds of ordinary people. There is something there, there is no smoke without fire!

Various reports about the animal mutants of Chernobyl, of course, fuel people's interest in the Chernobyl zone. In addition, modern computer games, in search of something new, turn to the theme of Chernobyl as a specific gaming space in which millions of users around the world can be immersed.

A new world, new means of communication and a new perception of reality will have an impact on the topic of Chernobyl in the future. What will it be like? It's hard to say, we can only make our own assumptions. The topic of Chernobyl mutant animals will most likely exist for a long time. Probably, the new generation will give it new meaning. For, as the texts of ancient wisdom say: “Everything flows, everything changes”...

Chernobyl nuclear power plant after the explosion of power unit 4

The trees are motionless. For many years now, the earth has been covered with yellowed leaves, and radiation feeds its depths. Even the sun's rays illuminating the narrow paths cannot make the wild and abandoned forest smile. We are talking about the Red Forest, located near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. After the explosion that occurred in 1986, tons of dangerous radioactive substances were released into the atmosphere. Radioactive particles rose up and were carried away by the cloud over long distances.

The coniferous forest was also seriously damaged. Due to the ingress of radioactive particles, it acquired a red color. It is here that the largest amount of harmful elements of radiation is still concentrated. And it is here, according to eyewitnesses, that Chernobyl mutants, unprecedented life forms and giant plants live.

Are these stories true? In order to understand how true these conclusions are, it is necessary to do a little analysis.

Outskirts of the Red Forest

The dangerous properties of radiation in the USSR were known even before the construction of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Despite this, neither the danger to the population nor the possibility of unforeseen consequences stopped the steel mechanism called the Soviet Union.

An interesting fact in this situation remains the stories of the workers that shortly before the accident, some of them had nightmares warning about the accident. However, no one paid enough attention to them. And only after a while everything became obvious.

By the beginning of the 90s, the yellow press was born. It is not surprising that stories about the Chernobyl accident and mutants began to appear more and more often in the press. Undoubtedly, it was only to the advantage of representatives of such a publication to talk about mutants in Chernobyl. This fueled a situation that was already difficult. However, whether there are mutants in Chernobyl or not, the common man became increasingly interested. Therefore, with every year and new trends in scientific and technological progress, more and more myths and legends about mutants from Chernobyl appeared.

Exhibit of a museum in Kyiv. Mutations in animals

Myths about Chernobyl mutants

With the popularization of Internet resources and the advent of open access to almost any information, you can’t stop coming across articles and videos telling about the secrets of Chernobyl, mutants, anomalies and secrets of the exclusion zone. Getting acquainted with the Chernobyl tragedy, you find not a single interesting fact that was unknown to many only yesterday. The reasons for the explosion of the fourth reactor, the number of victims, as well as the names of the heroic liquidators - all this information is available today.