Radiation
Radiation is a game mechanic introduced in the Spaced Out DLC. Certain elements and buildings such as Uranium Ore and the Research Reactor generate ambient radiation. Its strength is measured in Rads per cycle, which Duplicants and Plants absorb in form of Rads. Duplicants will release some amount of rads when using the toilet. Duplicants can also be protected from radioactivity by using Lead Suits. If exposed to too much radiation, Duplicants will become sick with Radiation Sickness.
Radiation usually refers to the Ambient Radiation that's measured in Rads per cycle.
Sources of Radiation
| Source | Rate | Radius | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radbolt projectile | 0.2 rads per cycle (Mostly Safe) | 3 tiles | Only while in motion. Stored radbolts do not emit radiation. |
| Radbolt impact
(per radbolt stored) |
33.33 rads per cycle (Mostly Safe) | 6 tiles | For example, two colliding projectiles containing 50 radbolts each will add up to a brief explosion of ~3333.33 rads per cycle. |
| Shine Bug | 60 rads per cycle (Mostly Safe) | 6 tiles | |
| Glow Stick trait | 100 rads per cycle (Mostly Safe) | 3 tiles | |
| Manual Radbolt Generator | 120 rads per cycle (Barely Safe) | 3 tiles | Quick bursts quickly dissipating. |
| Space radiation | 175 rads per cycle (Barely Safe) 187 rads per cycle (Barely Safe) 218 rads per cycle (Slight Hazard) 250 rads per cycle (Slight Hazard) 375 rads per cycle (Slight Hazard) |
- | Depends on the starting planetoid:
|
| Beetiny | 480 rads per cycle (Significant Hazard) | 2 tiles | Only while sleeping. |
| Wheezewort | 480 rads per cycle (Significant Hazard) | 6 tiles | Wild and Domesticated Wheezeworts give the same amount of radiation. |
| Radiation Lamp | 720 rads per cycle (Significant Hazard) | 16 wide by 4 tiles tall | Emission in shape of a quarter ellipse, centered in front of the lamp. |
| Beeta | 1440 rads per cycle (Significant Hazard) | 3 tiles | Only while sleeping. |
| Beeta Hive | 1800+ | 6 tiles | Quick pulsing effect while processing Uranium. Originates at 1800 rads per cycle but doubles to approximately 3600 rads per cycle (Extreme Hazard) on each side. |
| Crashed Satellites | 2400 rads per cycle (Extreme Hazard) | 12 tiles | |
| Radbolt Engine | 10080 rads per cycle (Maximum Hazard) | 10 tiles | Only during launch. |
| Research Reactor
(stable) |
12000 rads per cycle (Maximum Hazard) | 25 tiles | |
| Research Reactor
(meltdown) |
24000 rads per cycle (Maximum Hazard) | 25 tiles | Gradually decreases to 0 over a period of 5 cycles (-4800 rads per cycle per cycle). |
| Radioactive Contaminants
(per 10,000 germs) |
11 rads per cycle (Mostly Safe) | 1 tile | Radioactive Contaminants only irradiate the tile they are inside on, be that a solid, liquid, or gas.
Radioactive Contaminants don't radiate when on an element in its debris or bottled form, not when it's pumped through gas or liquid pipes, or on conveyor rails. |
| Nuclear Fallout
(per 1,000 kg) |
17 rads per cycle (Mostly Safe) | 3 tiles | |
| Depleted Uranium*
(per 1,000 kg) |
55 rads per cycle (Mostly Safe) | 3 tiles | Liquid Uranium forms natural Depleted Uranium tiles at a density higher than 81 kg. |
| Uranium Ore* and Solid Nuclear Waste* (per 1,000 kg) |
165 rads per cycle (Barely Safe) | 3 Tiles | Liquid Nuclear Waste forms natural Solid Nuclear Waste tiles at a density higher than 1,475 kg while only 1,000 kg Liquid Nuclear Waste stays in a Tile at a time without compressing it beforehand. |
| Liquid Uranium and Liquid Nuclear Waste (per 1,000 kg) |
165 rads per cycle (Barely Safe) | 3 tiles | Since they are liquid, a Radbolt Generator can be built inside of it immediately. |
| Enriched Uranium*
(per 1,000 kg) |
275 rads per cycle (Slight Hazard) | 3 tiles |
* These Elements are only Radioactive in form of Natural Tiles, not as Debris.
Corium is not Radioactive by itself, but it emits Nuclear Waste, which is.
Hazard Rating
| Hazard Rating | Radiation Strength |
|---|---|
| Completely Safe | Exactly 0 rads per cycle |
| Mostly Safe | Between more than 0 to 100 rad per cycle |
| Barely Safe | Between 100 and 200 rads per cycle |
| Slight Hazard | Between 200 and 400 rads per cycle |
| Significant Hazard | Between 400 and 2000 rads per cycle |
| Extreme Hazard | Between 2000 and 4000 rads per cycle |
| Maximum Hazard | Above 4000 rads per cycle |
Radiation Protection
Different Materials shield from Radiation, see the Page on Radiation Absorption for a comprehensive list.
Duplicants absorb Radiation according to the tile their feet occupy, and Lead Suits protect them from 66% of it, so they only absorb 34% (not a full third, but 34% exactly).
Having eaten Seafood (raw Pacu Fillet, Cooked Seafood, or Surf'n'Turf) grants Radiation Resistance: Seafood which decreases Radiation Absorption by 20% for 2 Cycles.
These stack cumulative to only absorb 14% if a Duplicant both has eaten Seafood, and wears a Lead Suit.
The Basic Rad Pill grants Radiation Rejuvination of -100 Rads per Cycle for one cycle.
Duplicants with the rad eater trait have permanent -0.25 Rads/s (-150 Rads/Cycle). Rads reduced in this way are converted to calories, up to 50 Kcal per cycle (0.083 Kcal/s)
Using the bathroom (whether Latrine, Outhouse, or Wall Toilet) reduces the absorbed Rad Dose by 100. A duplicant will go to the bathroom when they have either a bathroom or downtime break and their bladder is at 40% or higher, allowing for ~200 rads removed per cycle when an additional bathroom break is added half-way through a schedule.
A Duplicant that has absorbed too much Radiation may develop Radiation Sickness.
Radiation Blocking
Most things block radiation, including gases. Their ratings are shown in their documentation, but the in-game blocking rating may be different. The only things that do not block radiation in any way are Airflow Tiles, Mesh Tiles and Solar Panels.