Comments on: The “Oops” Heard ‘Round the World (Or Not)

By: Helenann

Helenann — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:59:31 +0000

I,too,am a klutz, and am known for my weird events. The favorite of most is when I accidentally shut my own head in my cardoor (between the car frame and the slamming door).
But at least I have never dropped a radioactive brick! LOL–it’s the new standard of how klutzy a person it! “Did you…you know, drop a brick?” LOL.
Love the information in this article and the ensuing conversation. Good work!

By: Jerome

Jerome — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:38:36 +0000

Nice post! I feel so simphaty to Daghlian…What I learn hear is don’t work too hard. Exhaustion can effect our awareness and accident happen when we less aware.

By: Spacebat

Spacebat — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:33:35 +0000

Actually radiation can accumulate in the body. Gamma and X-rays don’t do this, alpha particles don’t tend to and I don’t think beta particles do it much, but if a beta particle hits a nucleus it could turn a proton into a neutron or otherwise destabilize the nucleus and form an unstable isotope of a different element.

Likewise, neutrons that are absorbed by tissues will alter the isotopic distribution. In general these modifications to the nuclei make them less stable, so over time the tissue itself emits further radiation.

Also when a nuclear accident has generated sufficient heat there will be some nasty isotopes released as gases, some of which accumulate in tissues if inhaled.

This accumulation of radiation is one reason why many of the tools used in nuclear reactors and waste dumps cannot simply be washed or scoured clean. They become low grade nuclear waste themselves and must be disposed of with that in mind.

Darian is right in asserting that in this case, the overwhelming amount of cellular damage would have been done by gamma and x-rays.

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:01:30 +0000

23. Shannon – at least you were a woman.

By: Tom Ritchford

Tom Ritchford — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 20:40:53 +0000

You might also want to remember that he was probably working himself to the bone for the war effort and thus was exhausted.

By: GeologyJoe

GeologyJoe — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:06:55 +0000

I believe this story as well as many others was also accounted in the book “Plutonium Files”.

By: loomis

loomis — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:27:22 +0000

I believe that the event in Fat Man and Little Boy was based on this accident (time frame) and that of Louis Slotin. Slotin’s accident was closer to what was protrayed in the movie, but it happened after the war. Slotin was the second man killed by the Demon Core mentioned by MikeC.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:51:10 +0000

I have to admit I have seen Fat man and Little Boy many times. I had a demented crush on Dwight Schultz. I am so glad to get that off my chest.

By: MikeC

MikeC — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:31:43 +0000

That same plutonium core was involved in 2 accidental supercritical events that resulted in fatalities. As a result it earned the nick name “Demon Core”. Just search wikipedia for demon core if you want more details.

By: Stefanie

Stefanie — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:28:24 +0000

Wow and here I thought I was a klutz. I have busted my chin open twice, fallen down the stairs twice, almost broke my nose in a pool, ran into a brick wall and is always tripping on air and my feet. There of course is many more klutzy episodes but these were the funniest.