--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He pointed to another number, changing as…" description: "\"“He pointed to another number, changing as rapidly as the first, but on a lower trajectory; it rose to a high of 8.79 rem per hour. Several lifetimes o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cff/kim-stanley-robinson-2148_art-of-living_he-pointed-to-another-number-changing-as_2005606.png" --- # He pointed to another number, changing as rapidly as the… ![“He pointed to another number, changing as rapidly as the first, but on a lower trajectory; it rose to a high of 8.79 rem per hour. Several lifetimes of dentists’ X-rays, to be sure; but the radiation outside the storm shelter would have been a lethal dose, so they were getting off lightly. Still…” quote by Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cff/kim-stanley-robinson-2148_art-of-living_he-pointed-to-another-number-changing-as_2005606.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cff/kim-stanley-robinson-2148_art-of-living_he-pointed-to-another-number-changing-as_2005606.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cff/kim-stanley-robinson-2148_art-of-living_he-pointed-to-another-number-changing-as_2005606.png) > ““He pointed to another number, changing as rapidly as the first, but on a lower trajectory; it rose to a high of 8.79 rem per hour. Several lifetimes of dentists’ X-rays, to be sure; but the radiation outside the storm shelter would have been a lethal dose, so they were getting off lightly. Still, the amount flying through the rest of the ship! Billions of particles were penetrating the ship and colliding with the atoms of water and metal they were huddled behind; hundreds of millions were flying between these atoms and then through the atoms of their bodies, touching nothing, as if they were no more than ghosts. Still, thousands were striking atoms of flesh and bone. Most of those collisions were harmless; but in all those thousands, there were in all probability one or two (or three?) in which a chromosome strand was taking a hit, and kinking in the wrong way: and there it was. Tumor initiation, begun with just that typo in the book of the self. And years later, unless the victim's DNA luckily repaired itself, the tumor promotion that was a more or less unavoidable part of living would have its effect, and there would appear a bloom of Something Else inside: cancer. Leukemia, most likely; and, most likely, death.”” [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Radiation exposure in space can cause rare DNA damage that may lead to cancer, highlighting the stochastic nature of health risks in extreme environments. **In simple terms:** Space radiation can cause rare DNA damage leading to cancer. Key Takeaway Protect against radiation exposure. Themes space travel radiation risk DNA damage cancer risk assessment Mood anxious reflective cautious Type scientific warning informative When to use this quote - space missions - medical monitoring - radiation shielding - public health policy - risk communication Key Concepts stochastic events mutation oncogenesis environmental health Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance exploration with health safety? - What policies best reduce radiation risks? A Different Perspective Radiation risk is low probability but high impact; mitigation may be costly and imperfect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art of living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-of-living/) [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/) ## Related quotes > [ “I realized Jack \[Kerouac\] was deeply committed to writing. 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Several lifetimes of dentists’ X-rays, to be sure; but the radiation outside the storm shelter would have been a lethal dose, so they were getting off lightly. Still, the amount flying through the rest of the ship! Billions of particles were penetrating the ship and colliding with the atoms of water and metal they were huddled behind; hundreds of millions were flying between these atoms and then through the atoms of their bodies, touching nothing, as if they were no more than ghosts. Still, thousands were striking atoms of flesh and bone. Most of those collisions were harmless; but in all those thousands, there were in all probability one or two (or three?) in which a chromosome strand was taking a hit, and kinking in the wrong way: and there it was. Tumor initiation, begun with just that typo in the book of the self. 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