The Accident
On a particular day in May, there was a fatal accident. Louis Slotin was giving a procedure demonstration in Los Alamos. The procedure was called a crit test. It was used so that scientists could observe what was called the blue glow. This confirmed that the plutonium centre of an atomic bomb was at the appropriate size to bear the chain reaction that happened amongst the atomic particles that would develop an explosion. This procedure was considered to be extremely risky.
Slotin had preformed this procedure several times previously and would push the limits to obtain a better set of data. However, when he preformed the test on his final time, something went wrong. His hand slipped during one of the most crucial moments causing a disastrous outcome. After a period of nine days, the amount of radiation that Slotin had received killed him. There were other exposed men in the room too, however the radiation did not kill them as Slotin absorbed most of it. There are different beliefs on the outcome of this event. Some say that it was heroic that a man as he reacted so quickly after his mistake allowing his colleagues to live, however, some say that it was this was entirely avoidable had he have followed proper safety procedures.
More than 3, 000 people showed up to the funeral at the Slotin family house.
Slotin had preformed this procedure several times previously and would push the limits to obtain a better set of data. However, when he preformed the test on his final time, something went wrong. His hand slipped during one of the most crucial moments causing a disastrous outcome. After a period of nine days, the amount of radiation that Slotin had received killed him. There were other exposed men in the room too, however the radiation did not kill them as Slotin absorbed most of it. There are different beliefs on the outcome of this event. Some say that it was heroic that a man as he reacted so quickly after his mistake allowing his colleagues to live, however, some say that it was this was entirely avoidable had he have followed proper safety procedures.
More than 3, 000 people showed up to the funeral at the Slotin family house.
