This article from BBC Future explores the tragic accident that occurred during the Manhattan Project in 1946, resulting in the death of physicist Louis Slotin. Slotin was demonstrating a reactivity test on a plutonium core when a slip of a screwdriver caused the upper reflector to enclose the core, resulting in a burst of radiation. Slotin died nine days later from organ failure. The article delves into the culture of risk-taking and lack of safety precautions at Los Alamos during that time, and the implications of using human bodies as part of experimental conditions. It also touches on the long-term effects of nuclear testing and the ongoing secrecy surrounding the incident. The article highlights the need to learn from such accidents and to engage in public discourse about their implications.
Wed, 19 Jul 2023 23:04:21 GMT | BBC