Chernobyl’s Radioactive Lava is Still Hot

With the release of the highly acclaimed HBO mini-series, Chernobyl has once again caught the attention of the world. While the dramatization of the events portrayed on the show offered audiences a compelling narrative, there is still much more to understand about this disaster and its lasting impact. Kyle takes an in depth look at not only how the Chernobyl meltdown came to happen, but how its aftermath will continue to haunt us for centuries.

Because Science every Thursday.

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[becausescience]

Thanks for watching super nerds! I know this was a bit different than our normal episodes, but if you like the more real science angle, let me know and reply below with suggestions! And of course, I couldn't get to every single detail in a 14min video that I only have so long to write. I did simplify and leave some things out. Look to the comments below for context from the other nerds! See you on Friday. -- kH

[theosey]

"oh that thing over there looks weird it looks like an elephants foot haha"
*cough blood*

[mollywinegar]

I love when Thor schools me on nuclear disaster.

[Jodamanify]

"In fact, I think its rad... "

This was when I knew I was in the right place.

[joeboyung]

That moment you realize that the nuclear reactor is just a big steam engine without coal. Go science

[blipco]

On the plus side...the Russians DID find out how their reactor would perform under a low power condition. 💥

[MrDmitriRavenoff]

I love how something as sophisticated as a Nuclear Reactor is basically a really fancy water wheel.

[caitlynbaker]

7:35 "Sand, Clay and other materials". For those curious, the other materials included lead and boron.
The sand was used to smother the reaction and try to prevent further smoke, while the boron was supposed to reduce the reaction itself.
That was the theory, unfortunately due to the circumstances and difficulty in accurately dropping materials in, it didn't work as planned and pretty much no boron managed to reach the core to slow the reaction.


I appreciate you too Kyle :)

[fabianglathe]

The elephants foot is now literally the real life equivalent of the „sealed evil in a can“ trope.

“So what did ya do with the evil demon you created?”

“It was too powerful to be defeated, so we sealed it away, underground, in a specially designed container, and hope it will never manage to escape, or worse, be freed”

[the_honkler]

When one your nuclear reactors in Chernobyl fulfills the 5 year plan for heat energy production in 4 microseconds

[jakeharris]

"I saw graphite on the ground.."
"No you didn't. YOU DIDNT!!!"

[leocarioshiny]

6:39 “It created a steam explosion that dislodged the top shield of the reactor. It weighed 2 million pounds.”

Damn bro

[charliefoxtrot]

"Alone in a dark basement for centuries." The Elephant's Foot is so emo LOL.

[CaliVsAk]

@ 5:01 I just love that look on Kyle's face just after he says they went from 30 control rods to 6. It just screams "really?! Who thought this was smart?"

[Patrick_becausereasons]

I live in Austria and it's my first childhood memory when my mother screamed that i should leave the sandbox and come home immediately. The people of Chernobyl weren't evacuated at this point.

[GEOGUY-ivqr]

10:00 "Writes 10, 000 R/hr"
Me: No no, my dosimeter reads 3.6

[Striker]

It will just sit there, alone in a dark basement, a dangerous symbol and reminder of terrifying and amazing potential.

I have never felt more personally attacked on this show.

[yaboi]

2019: Storming Area 51


2020: Storming Chernobyl

[scottmantooth]

when your Geiger counter implodes the moment you enter the room...you have a very serious problem

[matthewprince]

I'd love to see an update to this about the fungus that is growing on the inside of the sarcophagus that eats radiation.