Latest news with #HarryDaghlian
News18
6 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Plutonium Paradox: The Nuclear Core That Killed Its Makers - And Was Never Meant To Exist
Last Updated: The dangerous 'Demon Core' was never used. In 1946, it was melted and repurposed for nuclear research, but its deadly incidents left a chilling legacy In a gripping chapter of World War II history, a scientific discovery known as the 'Demon Core' proved to be as dangerous as it was powerful. This small plutonium sphere, weighing approximately 6.2 kg, had the potential to obliterate an entire city in moments. In the final days of World War II, after the US had dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a third bomb using this deadly plutonium core was prepared. However, Japan's surrender made its deployment unnecessary. The core was returned to the laboratory—marking the beginning of its terrifying journey. How Was The 'Demon Core' Made? The plutonium core was kept at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where scientists conducted experiments to study its neutron emissions and how it could be controlled. However, two separate accidents occurred within a year during these tests, resulting in the deaths of two scientists. First Accident On August 21, 1945 In the first incident, scientist Harry Daghlian was conducting an experiment to determine how quickly the core could reach a 'supercritical' state. By mistake, he dropped a tungsten brick onto the core, causing a sudden spike in neutron activity. Within seconds, the core became highly radioactive. Daghlian suffered severe radiation exposure and died 25 days later. Second Accident On May 21, 1946 What Happened Next? The dangerous core was never used again. In 1946, it was melted down and repurposed for other nuclear research. However, the incidents associated with it left a chilling legacy. The 'Demon Core' became a symbol of the thin line between scientific advancement and catastrophic risk. Its history serves as a stark reminder that nuclear power is not just a demonstration of capability—but a profound responsibility. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
News18
7 days ago
- Health
- News18
Demon Core: World War II-Era Nuclear Mass, Manhattan Project Relic That Killed Two Scientists
Created for a third atomic bomb, the Demon Core never left the lab but still killed two scientists in chilling, real-life radiation accidents. In the final days of World War II, a small, unassuming sphere of plutonium earned a deadly nickname and came to be known as the Demon Core. Crafted as a key component of the atomic bomb, this metal ball of destruction never saw battle but claimed the lives of two brilliant scientists in fatal accidents. It was the third atom bomb that was designed but it was never used or detonated. The Demon Core came into public attention after Dr Ben Miles shared a reel on Instagram explaining how after being left behind the Demon Core became an object of 'deadly scientific curiosity". The reel was shared as a part of his series 'Scientifically Interesting Ways To Die". A Deadly Remnant of the Atomic Age The 'Demon Core" was a 6.2-kilogram sub-critical mass of plutonium designed as the core of a third atomic bomb during World War II. Created under the US Manhattan Project, it was intended for use against Japan after Hiroshima and Nagasaki—but Japan's surrender halted the plan. Harry Daghlian: First Victim of the Demon Core Harry Daghlian was a 24-year-old physicist working at Los Alamos in 1945. A rising talent, he had joined the Manhattan Project to study neutron behavior in fissile materials. On August 21, 1945, while performing a criticality experiment alone, Daghlian accidentally dropped a tungsten brick onto the plutonium core, initiating a burst of radiation. Though he quickly removed it, he had already received a fatal dose. Daghlian died 25 days later from acute radiation poisoning, becoming the core's first victim. Louis Slotin Tried To Pry It Open With A Screwdriver Louis Slotin, a Canadian physicist and bomb assembly expert, took over similar experiments with the core. Known for his hands-on approach and disregard for safety protocols, Slotin became one of the few people who could assemble a bomb core manually. On May 21, 1946, Slotin was demonstrating a criticality test to colleagues. Using a screwdriver to separate two beryllium hemispheres around the core, the tool slipped and ended up triggering a burst of blue light and radiation. Slotin quickly disassembled the sphere, saving others in the room. He died nine days later from massive radiation exposure. How Demon Core Killed Both deaths were caused by sudden criticality. Criticality is an uncontrolled nuclear reaction that released lethal doses of neutron and gamma radiation in microseconds. This exposure destroyed bone marrow, burned internal organs and triggered systemic failure. Acute radiation poisoning, depending on dosage, leads to nausea, burns, cell death, and in high doses, certain death. Radiation at high doses damages DNA, disrupts cellular replication, and breaks down the body's ability to heal. Victims of criticality accidents often die from infections, organ failure, or internal bleeding triggered by cell destruction. Where Is It Now Following Slotin's death, scientists halted all hands-on criticality tests. The Demon Core was later melted down and reused in other nuclear experiments. Today, it no longer exists as a single object. Watch CNN-News18 here. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : atom bomb hiroshima manhattan project Nagasaki Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 03, 2025, 20:47 IST News viral Demon Core: World War II-Era Nuclear Mass, Manhattan Project Relic That Killed Two Scientists
