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"She's throwing off interference, radiation. Nothing harmful. Low levels of gamma radiation."
"That can be harmful."
Erik Selvig and Nick Fury[src]

Gamma Radiation is electromagnetic radiation of the shortest wavelength, and is emitted by the Infinity Stones. Gamma radiation was absorbed by Bruce Banner after he used it in his Super Soldier Serum, transforming him into Hulk.

History[]

Gamma Cannon[]

Gamma radiation was fired from the Gamma Cannon in order to close a rift to the Darkforce created by an Atomic Bomb.[1]

Recreating the Super Soldier Serum[]

"Banner thought gamma radiation might hold the key to unlocking Erskine's original formula."
Phil Coulson to Steve Rogers[src]
Bruce Banner experiment

Bruce Banner exposes himself to gamma radiation

In 2005, Bruce Banner experimented with gamma radiation in hopes of making soldiers immune to radiation poisoning, without knowing he was being part of Bio-Tech Force Enhancement Project, supervised by Thaddeus Ross and the United States Armed Forces, developed to rekindle Project Rebirth from the 1940s in order to create super soldiers akin to Captain America. Gamma radiation was seen as the ideal substitute for Vita Radiation as an activator and stabilizer for a recreated Super Soldier Serum.[2]

Absorbed by Bruce Banner[]

"I read all about your accident. That much gamma exposure should have killed you."
Tony Stark to Bruce Banner[src]

Being threatened with funding cuts at an early phase, Bruce Banner decided to test his gamma-irradiated Super Soldier Serum on himself and was administered a myostatin primer designed by Betty Ross that allowed his cells to absorb radiation temporarily.[2] While seated on a Gamma Ray Projector, Banner was monitored and exposed to fifteen seconds of gamma radiation at level one. With no effects after the exposure at level one, Banner manually set the radiation higher despite Ross' warnings.[3] Gamma pulses stored in Banner's amygdala which are released during high stress moments, triggering a transformation.[2]

Gamma Poisoning[]

Bruce Banner's Blood Cells

Bruce Banner's gamma-irradiated blood cells

Banner went to Brazil where he would look for a Corablanca flower from the Amazon Rainforest that could inhibit Gamma Radiation and therefore find the key to cure his condition, with the help of Samuel Sterns and the book Inventory of Rare and Endangered Tracheophyta of Amazônia. Meanwhile, Samuel Sterns experimented with Banner's gamma-irradiated blood samples on animal test subjects without his knowledge, willing to utilize his tests towards further scientific research, such as to develop cures to various illnesses, motivated by the goal to make humans practically immune to any disease.

In 2010, the Watcher Informant drank a bottle of Pingo Doce in his house in Milwaukee, unaware that it was infected with Bruce Banner's blood. His exposure to gamma radiation caught the attention of the Strategic Operations Command Center which tracked Banner down to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[2]

Blonsky's Blood Transfusion[]

EmilBlonsky-TIH

Emil Blonsky injected with Bruce Banner's gamma-irradiated blood

Emil Blonsky, who had already been injected twice with a version of the Super Soldier Serium, forced Samuel Sterns to inject him with Banner's Gamma-irradiated blood. Sterns warned that the combination would be an unpredictable combination that could turn him into an abomination. Blonsky, however, was less than concerned about the side effects, and Sterns promptly administered the transfusion, having his hippocampus exposed to Gamma Radiation to activate the mixture. As a result, Blonsky mutated into Abomination, a gargantuan and monstrous creature with body larger than Hulk's. Sterns was also accidentally infected with Banner's blood via an open wound on his forehead,[2] causing him to go mad, but with an enhanced intelligence.[4]

Centipede Serum[]

"I'm reading alien metal, gamma radiation, the serum... Every known source of superpower thrown in a blender. "
Jemma Simmons[src]

Gamma radiation was one of the components of the Centipede Serum, an item designated to give a person superhuman abilities: The rest of the components are Extremis, a variation of the Super Soldier Serum and technology from the Chitauri for injection.[5]

Gamma Power Reserve[]

Gamma radiation was fired from the Gamma Power Reserve in order to end the threat of Blackout against Audrey Nathan; being bombarded with the energy caused him to explode.[6]

Infinity Stones[]

Bruce analyzing the Scepter

Bruce Banner comparing the gamma radiation levels of the Scepter to the Tesseract

"The radiation's mostly gamma."
Bruce Banner[src]

In 2012, due to the Tesseract emitting gamma radiation, S.H.I.E.L.D. recruited Bruce Banner to assist them in locating it.[7] In 2018, when Thanos activated the completed Infinity Gauntlet, gamma radiation was emitted from the complete set of Infinity Stones and the Gauntlet was charred as a result.[8] After Thanos destroyed the Stones, his body also became charred from the gamma radiation.[9]

In 2023, Bruce Banner activated the Nano Gauntlet, noting that he would be the only one safe enough to do so due to his connection with gamma radiation. Later, Tony Stark used his nanotechnology to take the Infinity Stones off of the Nano Gauntlet and snapped his fingers to win the battle. However, he then died due to the gamma radiation exposure throughout his body.[9]

Absorbed by Jennifer Walters[]

Jennifer Walters and Bruce Banner

Jennifer Walters is infected by Bruce Banner's gamma-irradiated blood

"You and I, we share a rare combination of genetic factors that allow us to synthesize gamma radiation into somethin' else."
"So I turn into a Hulk now, too."
Bruce Banner and Jennifer Walters[src]

One day, Jennifer Walters and Bruce Banner got into a car accident. In the wake of the crash, both were injured. When Walters came to help Banner, his gamma-irradiated blood got into Walters' open wound. This caused her to be exposed to lethal amounts of gamma radiation thus turning her into a Hulk.[10]

Alternate Universes[]

Fluctuations[]

In an alternate universe, Samuel Sterns created a refined solution of gamma radiation, but the Enclave stole it and put it in a warehouse. Sterns learned that Bruce Banner's levels of gamma radiation fluctuated too greatly for a cure for Hulk to be possible, frustrating Banner. Sterns suggested they elevate his gamma levels, which Banner hesitantly agreed to. In order to do so, Hulk attacked the Enclave base where the organization kept Sterns' refined solution and returned it to Sterns. The Enclave arrived at Empire State University to steal the solution, but Hulk stopped them. Sterns used the solution to elevate Banner's gamma levels and successfully stop him from transforming into the Hulk.[11]

Appearances[]

Appearances for Gamma Radiation

In chronological order:

References[]

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External Links[]

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