Spooky Science episode 6: First demon core incident

[tite]

Note for self - do not attempt nuclear experiments using a screwdriver

[theostalgist]

Scientists usually name things in a really boring way, so you know shit gets serious when its called the “Demon Core”

[satyamkatiyar]

This is such a great series, I wish it never ends.

[collinharvey]

Even as deadly as it was the way that the scientists experimented with it literally with a screwdriver has made it one of the most prolific memes in the nuclear physics community

[L.SeveralTimes.]

So menacingly radioactive that I'm worried about Hank standing too close to the photo of it over his shoulder. Told you so.





P.p.s. Sorry for the edit Hank, the comic in me had to get it out. We love you, and I'm glad youre on the mend. Happy spooky season.

[haydenhayden]

A reminder that The Demon Core was originally named “Rufus”.

[BrokenLifeCycle]

Slotin was the second guy who died. Even after learning of the mistake of the first guy, he did a "Fuck around and find out" moment.

[mwm]

You can only tickle the Dragon’s Tail so many times before waking her.

[Ratciclefan]

Slottin: *sees Daghlian die thanks to this*

Also Slottin: Well better be as careless from possible

[AndrewDeLong]

You and Kyle Hill need to get together to present stuff like this. You both can carry a serious tone that just chills to the bone.

[ARandomPolarBear]

"Ferb, what screwdriver did you just hand me just now?"

[bradonhoover]

Reminder that the flash of blue light wasn't visible light emanating from the sphere. What happened was the radiation was so intense that as it travelled through their eyes, their ocular fluid slowed the radioactive particles down enough that the kinetic energy lost in the radiation was converted into blue light. It was their eyes that made the flash of blue light, not the demon core.

[illusion-xiii]

I'm really enjoying the delivery on these Spooky Science segments. Because these are also, in a very real way, historical tragedies involving real deaths, the somber tone feels appropriate, and yet these are interesting, dark episodes of our scientific past. Informative and interesting, spooky yet somber, I think you've struck a really good tone with these.

[yuvalne]

Kyle Hill's telling of this story is excellent and genuinely bone chilling. Highly recommended.

[trashboatdumpsterfire]

Your shorts have been an absolute blessing. I love science and I’ve always felt I wasn’t smart enough to pursue any sort of further education and a career in any science fields. Your shorts are wonderful to watch and learn new science stuff. Idk man I just appreciate your content a lot.

[badoobles]

The moral of the demon core is: don't put your life in the hands of a screwdriver.

[alwaysshit]

Nuclear science 101: if there’s a flash of blue light, it’s not good

[thejackrabbit]

I'm sorry but my brain cannot wait 24 whole hours for part two :( brain wants information

[casscarthy]

a demon core, a screwdriver, and a scientist walk into a bar…

[man]

They literally called it the Demon Core. You'd think they'd be a bit more careful