Intended for War
The “demon core” was a plutonium core originally meant for use in a nuclear bomb during World War II. It was prepared as a backup for the atomic bombs dropped on Japan in 1945, but after the war ended, it was retained for experiments at the Los Alamos Laboratory.
First Fatal Mistake
On August 21, 1945, physicist Harry Daghlian was conducting a criticality experiment with the core. As he stacked tungsten carbide bricks around it, the core began to reach a dangerous critical state. Daghlian accidentally dropped a brick onto the core, causing a prompt critical reaction. Although he quickly removed it, he was exposed to a fatal dose of radiation and died 25 days later.
Second Fatal Incident
On May 21, 1946, physicist Louis Slotin was performing another criticality experiment with the same core. He used a screwdriver to separate two hemispheres around the core, but the tool slipped, causing the core to go supercritical. Slotin shielded others in the room but absorbed a lethal dose of radiation. He died nine days later.
The Core’s Final Fate
After these two fatal incidents, the demon core was retired and melted down for reuse in other experiments.
The Demon Core: A Deadly Experiment Gone Wrong ☢️
Intended for War
The “demon core” was a plutonium core originally meant for use in a nuclear bomb during World War II. It was prepared as a backup for the atomic bombs dropped on Japan in 1945, but after the war ended, it was… pic.twitter.com/51gieIOZDU— Detective Tiger’s Stories (@TigerDetective) October 19, 2024