Secrets of the Demon Core: A Chain Reaction That Changed Nuclear History | TV Astronomy Library

What happens when science goes too far? On August 21, 1945, physicist Harry Daghlian conducted a dangerous nuclear experiment at Los Alamos. One slip — a block of tungsten carbide falling into a plutonium core — triggered a deadly chain reaction and a burst of blue light that would become known as the first fatal nuclear accident in history. This is the true story of the Demon Core — the sphere of plutonium originally intended for a third atomic bomb. It never reached the battlefield… but it still claimed lives. In this video, we explore: • How a nuclear chain reaction works • What "criticality" means in physics • Why the Demon Core was so dangerous • The second fatal incident with physicist Louis Slotin Featuring detailed scientific explanations, eerie historical accounts, and haunting questions about humanity’s pursuit of power. 🎥 Subscribe for more science-based stories that blend truth, danger, and mystery.