CE4

October 5, 2018

https://www.foxnews.com/science/mars-trip-damage-astronauts-stomachs-cancer-nasa-funded-study-finds

Fox News was founded in 1996 by Rupert Murdoch, he hired Roger Ailes, a republican media consultant as the CEO. Due to Ailes political stance and his position of power in the company, Fox naturally leans to the right although slightly even now when he no longer leads the corporation. The channel is a subsidiary of 21st Century Fox and while it is much younger than many of the other news giants, Fox leads the pack with its substantial amount of viewers.
This article looks into the harm that the radiation from space travel can have on our bodies. While the effect any radiation has on our bodies is at best a wild card, the human body doesn't have much of a problem dealing with it when the journey is relatively short, like to the moon. However, venturing much farther, like to Mars or even deep space travel, these waves hit us much harder. This is due mostly to the type of radiation inflicted: iron radiation. This because iron is a heavier element than the decaying elements we are normally exposed to. A study was conducted on mice to determine the effects of these radio waves. This study involved three groups, one exposed to the iron radiation, one to gamma rays, and the last to nothing to be used as a control group. It was determined that the heavy radiation messed with the digestive system of the mice and some even developed cancer as a result.
This article uses all three rhetorical appeals, it uses logos through it's transmission of information and scientific nature. It also uses logos by using quotations from the scientists directing the study. In addition, it establishes an ethos appeal by attempting to seek out and trying to determine what is and is not safe for the human body, the harmful effects of this type of radiation in the body, and trying to keep these people safe and healthy before they are exposed to danger. It also appeals with pathos with some of the word choice conveying worry and concern for people and their health.
This article was particularly interesting because most people interested in space travel are all "let's go to space! let's colonize the moon or mars!" but there are so many steps that need to be taken before we can even begin to think about that, and this article shows one of those things perfectly. If we rush space exploration, the consequences could be disastrous.