Science is humanity’s never-ending quest to discover and understand the world around us. However, there are things that even the most dedicated scientists regret discovering. From the mysteries of the deepest depths of Chernobyl to a mysterious sphere that could shorten your lifespan in the blink of an eye. Brace yourselves as we look at the cursed objects that science should leave alone.
At the end of World War II, the US military dropped two atomic bombs, Little Boy and Fat Man, on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. If Japan had not surrendered, the US had a third atomic bomb ready. After the war, the plutonium core from the bomb was kept at the Los Alamos Research Center, called Rufus and later The Demon Core. This plutonium core was one step away from being supercooled. A scientist named Louis Slotin used a risky method to examine this core, which led to an accident on May 21, 1946. A radioactive explosion occurred, killing Slotin after nine days.
With climate change, many mysteries frozen in the permafrost in Russia have gradually been revealed. In 2016, 1,200 reindeer died suddenly due to a heat wave, and doctors discovered that they were infected with Bacillus anthracis, which causes anthrax. This disease can be fatal if inhaled and can persist in the environment for a long time.
In addition to anthrax, giant craters have appeared in the permafrost, believed to be caused by methane gas explosions as the ice melts. These craters are the result of natural gas released from the melting permafrost.
In 1697, an ancient book called the Codex Gigas, also known as the Devil’s Bible, was saved from a fire. The book weighs 165 pounds and contains images of Satan, along with some mystery about its origins and how it was written.
Rapper Post Malone had a series of unfortunate incidents in 2018, after coming into contact with a Dybbuk Box, which was said to be a haunted object. However, Kevin Mannis, who sold the box, admitted that it was a hoax.
On April 26, 1986, workers at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant performed a routine maintenance check. They turned off the essential cooling system, resulting in a terrible radioactive explosion.
The explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant resulted in a massive electromagnetic wave, which caused Reactor 4 to explode and cause a core meltdown. The extreme heat caused the reactor to spontaneously combust, spewing radioactive material into the air. The nearby city of Pripyat had to be evacuated immediately. A rescue team returned six months later and discovered the world’s most dangerous piece of waste.
They entered a steam tunnel under Reactor 4 and found a giant lump of radioactive waste. The lump was 6.5 feet long and weighed at least 100 tons, emitting radiation levels of up to 10,000 roentgens per hour, the equivalent of 4.5 million X-rays. Standing near the lump for just two minutes could cause instant death.
The waste is called the “Elephant’s Foot” because of its cracked and wrinkled appearance. It is a lava-like liquid composed of molten control rods, nuclear fuel, and concrete. It burned through at least 6.6 feet of reinforced concrete to reach its location. Even after a decade, the waste remains dangerous.
Artur Korneyev, a nuclear inspector, returned to the waste multiple times to photograph it despite the radiation hazard. His famous photograph shows the effects of radiation warping the film. Even with the danger of radiation, Artur survived.
The Elephant’s Foot is one of the most dangerous objects known, capable of causing severe damage to DNA with just one exposure.
