That was a fascinating read! The 2 accidents surrounding it were very interesting to read about. They were both basic human mistakes that led to the ghastly consequences they unfortunately produced. The 2nd accident though, by Slotin–that was hubris. How could one have skirted such simple safety protocols? Dude was controlling a very veryvery powerful experiment with a screwdriver in his hand being all that stood between the team of scientists and a staggering amount of radiation… Then it slips! 👀
Whats even more terrible about the second one, is Feynman over there telling him he was a fucking idiot for doing it that way and he (Slotin) was going to get himself killed.
I think they were referring to it as “tickling the dragons tail” which certainly seems like a fitting description. It’s absolutely bonkers how much radiation exposure happened in that moment.
This is why we probably should be more careful when we do things that could potentially like, oh I dunno, open up a black hole here on Earth. I mean, it’s not like accidents never happen!! Oh wait… they DO!
What is that?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demon_core
That was a fascinating read! The 2 accidents surrounding it were very interesting to read about. They were both basic human mistakes that led to the ghastly consequences they unfortunately produced. The 2nd accident though, by Slotin–that was hubris. How could one have skirted such simple safety protocols? Dude was controlling a very very very powerful experiment with a screwdriver in his hand being all that stood between the team of scientists and a staggering amount of radiation… Then it slips! 👀
Whats even more terrible about the second one, is Feynman over there telling him he was a fucking idiot for doing it that way and he (Slotin) was going to get himself killed.
Anyone who hasn’t read Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman, go check it out
I think they were referring to it as “tickling the dragons tail” which certainly seems like a fitting description. It’s absolutely bonkers how much radiation exposure happened in that moment.
And Fermi
They made a movie that dramatized the accidents really well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh89h8FxNhQ
The movie Fat Man and Little Boy
This is why we probably should be more careful when we do things that could potentially like, oh I dunno, open up a black hole here on Earth. I mean, it’s not like accidents never happen!! Oh wait… they DO!
8.9cm diameter, 6.2kg. Says a lot. E: apparently it was 87°C too
Thanks 🙂