The Demon Core was a sphere of plutonium-gallium alloy that the U.S. made for use in an atomic bomb during World War II. After the war, researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory had two separate, fatal criticality accidents while working with it. 

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The Demon Core was a sphere of plutonium-gallium alloy that the U.S. made for use in an atomic bomb during World War II. After the war, researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory had two separate, fatal criticality accidents while working with it.  Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Missed In History Class in this podcast by iHeartRadio.

Stuff You Missed in History Class

The Demon Core and Other Criticality Accidents 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2e46bc95-a311-4977-bc14-ae2800207f5c/transcript

This 2020 episode covers the iconic figure of mysticism, Madame Blavatsky. She was the founder of the theosophical movement, and lived a life of adventure that's hard to believe.

This 2020 episode covers the iconic figure of mysticism, Madame Blavatsky. She was the founder of the theosophical movement, and lived a life of adventure that's hard to believe.

SYMHC Classics: Madame Blavatsky

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/97cbad58-6d44-4712-8c17-b2480042054b/transcript

Holly talks about the many, many organizations that Joaquín Torres-García formed. Tracy discusses how there was no plan in place before the SL-1 accident to deal with radioactive bodies.

Holly talks about the many, many organizations that Joaqu&iacute;n Torres-Garc&iacute;a formed. Tracy discusses how there was no plan in place before the SL-1 accident to deal with radioactive bodies.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Society for Disastrous Accidents

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The Stationary Low-Power Plant Number 1 was a small boiling-water reactor built at the National Reactor Testing Station, west of Idaho Falls, Idaho. On January 3, 1961, during a restart of the reactor, a catastrophic tragedy unfolded when the reactor went supercritical. 

Research:
Divison of Technical Information Extension, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. “SL-1 The Accident, Phases I and II.” https://www.osti.gov/sciencecinema/biblio/1129428
Francisco, A.D. and E. T. Tomlinson. “Analysis of the SL-1 Accident Using RELAP5-3D.” Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory. 2007 International RELAP5 User’s Seminar. November 7 -9, 2007. https://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/39/038/39038759.pdf?r=1
Idaho National Laboratory. “SL-1, Idaho: Just the Facts.” https://factsheets.inl.gov/FactSheets/Just%20the%20Facts_SL-1.pdf
O’Connor, Bryan. “Supercritical: SL-1 Nuclear Reactor Explosion.” NASA. September 2007. https://sma.nasa.gov/docs/default-source/safety-messages/safetymessage-2007-09-01-sl1nuclearreactorexplosion-vits.pdf
McKeown, William. “Idaho Falls: The Untold Story of America’s First Nuclear Accident.” ECW Press. 2003.
Perry, E.F. “Stationary Low Power Reactor No. 1 (SL-1) Accident Site Decontamination & Dismantlement Project.” Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies. 10/27/1995. https://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/27/029/27029475.pdf?r=1
SL-1 Accident Briefing Report - 1961 Nuclear Reactor Meltdown Educational Documentary. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. https://www.osti.gov/sciencecinema/biblio/1122857
Sommers, Bryan W. “Idaho Falls: The First Nuclear Meltdown in America’s History.” 4/11/2024. https://www.argonelectronics.com/blog/idaho-falls-first-nuclear-meltdown-in-americas-history
Stacy, Susan M. “Proving the Principle.” Idaho Operations Office of the Department of Energy Idaho Falls, Idaho. 2000.
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. “IDO Report on the Nuclear Incident at the SL-1 Reactor, January 3, 1961, National Reactor Testing Station.” U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Idaho Operations Office.
US Atomic Energy Commission. “REPORT ON THE SL-1 INCIDENT, JANUARY 3, 1961” https://archive.org/details/SL1PressRelease1961
Wander, Steve, executive editor. “Supercritical.” System Failure Case Studies. Vol. 1, Issue 4. https://sma.nasa.gov/docs/default-source/safety-messages/safetymessage-2007-09-01-sl1nuclearreactorexplosion.pdf

The Stationary Low-Power Plant Number 1 was a small boiling-water reactor built at the National Reactor Testing Station, west of Idaho Falls, Idaho. On January 3, 1961, during a restart of the reactor, a catastrophic tragedy unfolded when the reactor went supercritical.&nbsp;
Research:
<ul>
<li>Divison of Technical Information Extension, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. &ldquo;SL-1 The Accident, Phases I and II.&rdquo; https://www.osti.gov/sciencecinema/biblio/1129428</li>
<li>Francisco, A.D. and E. T. Tomlinson. &ldquo;Analysis of the SL-1 Accident Using RELAP5-3D.&rdquo; Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory. 2007 International RELAP5 User&rsquo;s Seminar. November 7 -9, 2007. https://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/39/038/39038759.pdf?r=1</li>
<li>Idaho National Laboratory. &ldquo;SL-1, Idaho: Just the Facts.&rdquo; https://factsheets.inl.gov/FactSheets/Just%20the%20Facts_SL-1.pdf</li>
<li>O&rsquo;Connor, Bryan. &ldquo;Supercritical: SL-1 Nuclear Reactor Explosion.&rdquo; NASA. September 2007. https://sma.nasa.gov/docs/default-source/safety-messages/safetymessage-2007-09-01-sl1nuclearreactorexplosion-vits.pdf</li>
<li>McKeown, William. &ldquo;Idaho Falls: The Untold Story of America&rsquo;s First Nuclear Accident.&rdquo; ECW Press. 2003.</li>
<li>Perry, E.F. &ldquo;Stationary Low Power Reactor No. 1 (SL-1) Accident Site Decontamination &amp; Dismantlement Project.&rdquo; Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies. 10/27/1995. https://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/27/029/27029475.pdf?r=1</li>
<li>SL-1 Accident Briefing Report - 1961 Nuclear Reactor Meltdown Educational Documentary. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. https://www.osti.gov/sciencecinema/biblio/1122857</li>
<li>Sommers, Bryan W. &ldquo;Idaho Falls: The First Nuclear Meltdown in America&rsquo;s History.&rdquo; 4/11/2024. https://www.argonelectronics.com/blog/idaho-falls-first-nuclear-meltdown-in-americas-history</li>
<li>Stacy, Susan M. &ldquo;Proving the Principle.&rdquo; Idaho Operations Office of the Department of Energy Idaho Falls, Idaho. 2000.</li>
<li>U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. &ldquo;IDO Report on the Nuclear Incident at the SL-1 Reactor, January 3, 1961, National Reactor Testing Station.&rdquo; U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Idaho Operations Office.</li>
<li>US Atomic Energy Commission. &ldquo;REPORT ON THE SL-1 INCIDENT, JANUARY 3, 1961&rdquo; https://archive.org/details/SL1PressRelease1961</li>
<li>Wander, Steve, executive editor. &ldquo;Supercritical.&rdquo; System Failure Case Studies. Vol. 1, Issue 4. https://sma.nasa.gov/docs/default-source/safety-messages/safetymessage-2007-09-01-sl1nuclearreactorexplosion.pdf</li>
</ul>

The Stationary Low-Power Plant Number 1 was a small boiling-water reactor built at the National Reactor Testing Station, west of Idaho Falls, Idaho. On January 3, 1961, during a restart of the reactor, a catastrophic tragedy unfolded when the reactor went supercritical. 

The SL-1 Reactor Incident

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2195b9ca-bc6e-49c6-be36-b247003b67c2/transcript

The Demon Core and Other Criticality Accidents

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