Earlier this week, friend of the _floss Maggie Koerth-Baker posted a round-up of nuclear accidents in the U.S. & Russia. Today's follow-up took things in another direction:

"Researching the history of criticality accidents made me wonder how accidental exposure to massive levels of radiation became the de rigueur method of achieving superhero-dom. And, while I suppose comic book writers would have a well-formed opinion or two on this, I decided to ask a group of people whose point of view I'd never seen--actual nuclear scientists."

To find out the scientists' perspective on superhero origins, head over to BoingBoing to read the story.