# Looking at (non-weapon) nuclear reactions: Bright enough light to blind? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 3, 2019, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-non-weapon-nuclear-reactions-bright-enough-light-to-blind/830473 "2019-03-03T10:14:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-non-weapon-nuclear-reactions-bright-enough-light-to-blind/830473/21 "2019-03-04T15:26:06Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Interesting. I always thought nuclear reactions were like mini-Suns, very bright. The energy produced by nuclear reactions, even when released as photons (“hard” X-rays or gamma rays) is at least four orders of magnitude greater than photons in the visible spectrum. The conception of a nuclear reaction or materials undergoing nuclear decay glowing is a conceit of comics and films like [_Kiss Me Deadly_](https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0048261/?ref_=m_tt_urv/). When you see objects glowing from radioactivity such as radium dials on an old watch or tritium sights, it is because the radiation source is being used to excite a phosphorescent material that produces visual light as a secondary reaction, or the aforementioned Čerenkov radiation in nuclear reactors. > [@DPRK](#): > > Well, [this guy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatoli_Bugorski) took a 70 GeV proton beam to the head, which produced a “flash brighter than a thousand suns”, so the phosphene/nerve stimulation phenomenon exists. > > Particles from a nuclear reactor may have more modest energies than cosmic rays, but could still result in Cherenkov radiation in the eyeball. Note that the ‘flash of light’ experienced by Burgoski or the optical anomalies astronauts experience due to cosmic radiation is not due to visible light but instead direct stimulation of the optic nerve or brain tissue involved in visualization. A prompt criticality might release enough high energy radiation to produce a localized ionization effect in the air but if you are close enough to observe the effect you’ve probably absorbed a lethal amount of gamma radiation. Most nuclear reactions that are not producing amounts of radiation that are less than quickly lethal, or those primarily producing non-ionizing neutron radiation will not produce any visible light unless they are activating a phosphoresent source. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-non-weapon-nuclear-reactions-bright-enough-light-to-blind/830473/22 "2019-03-04T23:13:17Z")
So what would a thermonuclear explosion look like in space? ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-non-weapon-nuclear-reactions-bright-enough-light-to-blind/830473/23 "2019-03-04T23:39:47Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > So what would a thermonuclear explosion look like in space? > **[Starfish Prime](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfish_Prime?wprov=sfla1)** > > Starfish Prime was a high-altitude nuclear test conducted by the United States, a joint effort of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and the Defense Atomic Support Agency. It was launched from Johnston Atoll on July 9, 1962, and was the largest nuclear test conducted in outer space, and one of five conducted by the US in space. > A Thor rocket carrying a W49 thermonuclear warhead (designed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory) and a Mk. 2 reentry vehicle was launched from Johnston Atoll in the Pa... ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-non-weapon-nuclear-reactions-bright-enough-light-to-blind/830473/24 "2019-03-04T23:40:27Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > So what would a thermonuclear explosion look like in space? A brief bright flash accompanied by intense radiation. Much less light and thermal effect, much more radiation including radiation waves that could disable electronics around a significant chunk of the planet. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-non-weapon-nuclear-reactions-bright-enough-light-to-blind/830473/25 "2019-03-05T03:37:40Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > From [Louis Slotin - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Slotin) > “On 21 May 1946, with seven colleagues watching, Slotin performed an experiment that involved the creation of one of the first steps of a fission reaction by placing two half-spheres of beryllium (a neutron reflector) around a 3.5-inch-diameter (89 mm) plutonium core. The experiment used the same 6.2-kilogram (13.7 lb) plutonium core that had irradiated Harry Daghlian, later called the “demon core” for its role in the two accidents. Slotin grasped the upper 228.6 mm (9-inch) beryllium hemisphere with his left hand through a thumb hole at the top while he maintained the separation of the half-spheres using the blade of a screwdriver with his right hand, having removed the shims normally used. Using a screwdriver was not a normal part of the experimental protocol. > At 3:20 p.m., the screwdriver slipped and the upper beryllium hemisphere fell, causing a “prompt critical” reaction and a burst of hard radiation. At the time, the scientists in the room observed the blue glow of air ionization and felt a heat wave. Slotin experienced a sour taste in his mouth and an intense burning sensation in his left hand. He jerked his left hand upward, lifting the upper beryllium hemisphere and dropping it to the floor, ending the reaction. However, he had already been exposed to a lethal dose of neutron radiation.” > > It’s not quite as I remembered – there was a glow but they don’t say it was very bright, let alone blinding. As noted in your quote, that “Demon Core” took two lives in two separate accidents. Slotin was doubly careless because his colleague had already died in September of the previous year with the _same core_. And most folks have seen this demon core in action: I believe it’s the one that was used in the bomb at Bikini Atoll where they had all of the ships surrounding the island…Ah yes… [this one.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_testing_at_Bikini_Atoll#/media/File:Crossroads_baker_explosion.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![road\_lobo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d78d45/32.png) [@road\_lobo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/road_lobo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-non-weapon-nuclear-reactions-bright-enough-light-to-blind/830473/26 "2019-03-06T13:08:24Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > That’s just a ‘comic book’ meme now, but before those comics (and 1950’s movie dramas) were written, it was a scientific theory. > > Naive Darwinism was never compatible with the known age of the Earth. Up until the 70’s, there were various theories advanced, with more or less success, to account for the difference. One of the theories that failed was the idea that radiation could lead to enhanced variance and constructive mutation. That theory made it into popular culture before being rejected. Link / cite? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-non-weapon-nuclear-reactions-bright-enough-light-to-blind/830473/27 "2019-03-06T17:16:30Z")
Gojira? ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-non-weapon-nuclear-reactions-bright-enough-light-to-blind/830473/28 "2019-03-07T05:39:25Z")
> **[A Real-Life Nuclear Reactor Pulse Looks Like Something Out of a Movie](https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a22130/nuclear-reactor-pulse-video/)** > > Bask in the unearthly glow. Article with video from Popular Mechanics showing the TRIGA research nuclear reactor at UT-Austin experiencing a power spike to 1484 MW in 3.94 microseconds. I have to imagine the short duration of the burst contributes to the high power output measurement. Still, it’s loud and bright. [SPERT - Destructive Test - YouTube](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0FIhafVX_6I) Video of a SPERT power excursion test. Basically a steam explosion, albeit using a nuclear reactor to do so. EDIT: Oh, almost forgot. No need to get exotic. The Sun should count as a non-weaponized (sit down, Archimedes) nuclear reaction that can blind. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-non-weapon-nuclear-reactions-bright-enough-light-to-blind/830473/29 "2019-03-07T15:13:19Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > No need to get exotic. The Sun should count as a non-weaponized (sit down, Archimedes) nuclear reaction that can blind. Light emitted from the Sun (and other stars) is not direct output from the nuclear fusion processes in the core but incandescence of the outer layers (primarily the photosphere) heated by X-rays, which is why it is mostly infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light rather than hard X-rays. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-non-weapon-nuclear-reactions-bright-enough-light-to-blind/830473/30 "2019-03-07T16:36:31Z")
Right, when we look at the sun, the nuclear reaction is taking place over three hundred thousand miles beneath what we can see. The surface and non-fusing convective layers below it are simply roiling plasma that bear the excess heat up out of the core — an excess that adds up by volume to about the heat output of a fairly good compost heap. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-non-weapon-nuclear-reactions-bright-enough-light-to-blind/830473.md?page=1)