Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters
Project Rulison
Sep. 10 was the 50th anniversary of Project Rulison, which was an underground nuclear test conducted in Rulison, Colorado. Its purpose was to determine if a nuclear bomb, detonated underground, could be used to release natural gas.The answer was, not really, because the bomb will radiate the gas, making it unusable.
But what gave the test extra weirdness was that a handful of protesters tried to stop it by placing themselves on top of it. As an article on CBS Denver notes:
The protesters survived, but I'm assuming they must be the only people to have ever been directly on top of a nuclear explosion who lived to tell about it.
An article on vice.com offers a few details about what it felt like to be in the blast zone:
Posted By: Alex - Thu Sep 19, 2019 -
Comments (4)
Category: Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, 1960s
The History of Nuking Hurricanes
The idea of nuking hurricanes has been in the news lately. Which made me wonder: how soon after learning of the existence of atomic bombs did people start to speculate about dropping them into hurricanes?The answer seems to be, immediately. I found the article below about nuking hurricanes, dated Aug 8, 1945 — a mere two days after the bombing of Hiroshima.
Interestingly, the article speculates that the idea may have been inspired by earlier legends about using cannons to dispel waterspouts:
The Miami News - Aug 8, 1945
Posted By: Alex - Sun Sep 15, 2019 -
Comments (4)
Category: Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, 1940s, Weather
The Atomic Golf Ball
A demonstration that what is possible may not be what is practical.Developed by nuclear physicist William Davidson in 1950, a small amount of radioactive material at the core of the atomic golf ball allowed it to be found using a Geiger counter, should it be hit into the rough. But there were a few problems with the concept:
1: The Geiger counter needed to be pretty close to the ball (within 5 feet) to actually detect it.
2: Not many people own Geiger counters.
3: Even though a single ball didn't pose much of a radiation risk, a bunch of the balls stored together would be a problem. So, it wasn't possible for stores to stock and sell these.
Mechanix Illustrated - Mar 1951
Akron Beacon Journal - Aug 20, 2000
click to enlarge
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jul 24, 2019 -
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Category: Sports, Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, 1950s
Blue Snow
One of the more bizarre consequences of the atmospheric nuclear tests of the 1950s was that, hundreds of miles away, radioactive blue snow began to fall.Traveling salesman M.C. Myer was one of the first to report seeing this phenomenon in 1953, while driving through Shasta County, California:
Los Angeles Times - Apr 10, 1953
St. Louis Post Dispatch - Aug 7, 1994
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jul 03, 2019 -
Comments (3)
Category: Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, 1950s
Emergency Life Pack
Debuted in 1961, from the Survival Life Pack Company.Looks like you can still pick one up on eBay for around $199.99. (Though just the food/water, not the suit).
El Paso Times - Sep 22, 1961
Posted By: Alex - Thu Mar 14, 2019 -
Comments (5)
Category: Armageddon and Apocalypses, Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, 1960s
Atomic Agriculture
And you thought GMO crops were scary!
Original article here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Mar 12, 2019 -
Comments (5)
Category: Agriculture, Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, 1950s
Dr. Lapp’s Sperm Bank
1957: Atomic physicist Ralph Lapp urged that the government should start stockpiling human sperm in lead-lined containers for use following a nuclear war.
New York Daily News - June 6, 1957
Newsweek - June 17, 1957
Posted By: Alex - Tue Jan 15, 2019 -
Comments (4)
Category: Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, 1950s
Multipurpose Fallout Shelter
•Carport
•Patio
•Play Room
•Hobby Room
•Fallout Shelter
Salt Lake Tribune - Dec 17, 1961
Posted By: Alex - Sun Apr 15, 2018 -
Comments (3)
Category: Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, 1960s
8 tons of fallout biscuits
A follow-up to my post yesterday about the invention of 'fallout biscuits' in 1961.In 1971, eight tons of these biscuits, or crackers, caused the floor to collapse at the South Carolina State House:
"We know there were some crackers back there," Brooks said, "but who would have thought there were eight tons of them."
The Greenville News - July 11, 1971
Posted By: Alex - Thu Jan 18, 2018 -
Comments (2)
Category: Food, Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, 1970s
Fallout Biscuits
Back in 1961, the U.S. Office of Civil Defense came out with 'fallout biscuits.' They were vitaminized crackers. The idea was that people in fallout shelters could live on these for weeks, or even years, if necessary. The biscuits were cheap to make and lasted pretty much forever, so huge quantities were prepared.Fast-forward to the twenty-first century. The various places wheres the biscuits were stored, such as the University of Montana, now faced the problem of how to get rid of the thousands of boxes of these things.
Orlando Sentinel - Jun 2, 1961
Fort Myers News-Press - May 11, 1961
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jan 17, 2018 -
Comments (4)
Category: Food, Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, 1960s
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |