File:Cosmic_ray_flux_versus_particle_energy.svg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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cosmic radiation

Also known as cosmic ray, cosmic rain, cosmic rays

high-speed, i.e. high-energy particle, mainly originating in outer space, outside the Solar system

AI overview

Cosmic radiation consists of high-energy particles that travel through space from sources outside our Solar System and strike Earth. It matters because these particles can affect satellites, astronauts, and potentially other aspects of our environment and technology.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Research

4,085 papers

Cosmic radiation and cancer: is there a link?ReviewFuture oncology (London, England) · 2015Di Trolio R, Di Lorenzo G, Fumo B et al.DOI: 10.2217/fon.15.29
Cosmic radiation in commercial aviation.ReviewTravel medicine and infectious disease · 2008Bagshaw MDOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2007.10.003
Cosmic Radiation Exposure: A Review of Recent Research on the Incidence and Prevention of Cancer in Aircrews.ReviewHealth physics · 2025Eckhardt LDDOI: 10.1097/HP.0000000000001894
Cosmic radiation and commercial air travel.ReviewJournal of travel medicine · 2003Aw JJDOI: 10.2310/7060.2003.30669
The Effects of Cosmic Radiation Exposure on Pregnancy During a Probable Manned Mission to Mars.ReviewLife sciences in space research · 2025Demir AE, Sevinc EN, Ulubay MDOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2024.10.008
Antioxidant protection against cosmic radiation-induced oxidative stress at commercial flight altitude.ReviewJournal of physiology and pharmacology : an official journal of the Polish Physiological Society · 2018Mitrea DR, Mortazavi Moshkenani H, Hoteiuc OA et al.DOI: 10.26402/jpp.2018.4.03
Brains in space: impact of microgravity and cosmic radiation on the CNS during space exploration.ReviewNature reviews. Neuroscience · 2025Wuyts FL, Deblieck C, Vandevoorde C et al.DOI: 10.1038/s41583-025-00923-4
Real versus simulated galactic cosmic radiation for investigating cancer risk in the hematopoietic system - are we comparing apples to apples?ReviewLife sciences in space research · 2021Mehner C, Krishnan S, Chou J et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2021.01.001

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Wikidata facts

Image: Cosmic ray event. Photograph taken July 1, 1960. Bubble Chamber-924 - DPLA - 191460725238ea887116556a03df3aba.jpg

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Commons category: Cosmic rays
Stack Exchange tag: physics.stackexchange.com/tags/cosmic-rays

Sources (3)

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Article

Cosmic flux versus particle energy at the top of Earth's atmosphere Left image: cosmic ray muon passing through a cloud chamber undergoes scattering by a small angle in the middle metal plate and leaves the chamber. Right image: cosmic ray muon losing considerable energy after passing through the plate as indicated by the increased curvature of the track in a magnetic field.

Cosmic rays or astroparticles are high-energy particles or clusters of particles (primarily represented by protons or atomic nuclei) that move through space at nearly the speed of light. They originate from outside the Solar System — from the Milky Way, from distant galaxies, and from the Sun. Upon impact with Earth's atmosphere, cosmic rays produce showers of secondary particles, some of which reach the surface, although the bulk are deflected into space by Earth's magnetic field (the magnetosphere) or by the heliosphere.