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What kinds of rays are emitted from various sources in space and are detectable on the surface of earth?
Space rays, also known as cosmic rays, are high energy particles that originate from sources outside of our solar system and travel through space at nearly the speed of light.
Space rays are detected on Earth through specialized equipment, such as telescopes and particle detectors, that are designed to measure the energy, direction, and composition of these particles as they interact with Earth's atmosphere.
The types of space rays that are detectable on Earth include protons, electrons, and heavy nuclei such as helium, carbon, and iron. These rays can have energies ranging from a few million electron volts to several hundred billion electron volts.
While space rays can be harmful to humans in outer space, the Earth's atmosphere acts as a shield, protecting us from the majority of their effects. However, astronauts and airline crew members who are exposed to higher levels of space rays may experience increased risk of certain health effects such as cancer.
Space rays can influence Earth's environment in a variety of ways, including creating secondary particles in the atmosphere, causing aurora, and potentially contributing to cloud formation. They may also play a role in the evolution of life on Earth, as some scientists believe that space rays may have played a role in the origin and evolution of life on our planet.