this post was submitted on 28 Mar 2026
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Science Memes

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Why Kinder Surprise is banned in the USA (media.piefed.zip)
submitted 3 months ago by RmDebArc_5@piefed.zip to c/science_memes@mander.xyz
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[–] FalschgeldFurkan@lemmy.world 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

What is that?

[–] OpenStars@piefed.social 44 points 3 months ago (3 children)
[–] frunch@lemmy.world 18 points 3 months ago (3 children)

That was a fascinating read! The 2 accidents surrounding it were very interesting to read about. They were both basic human mistakes that led to the ghastly consequences they unfortunately produced. The 2nd accident though, by Slotin--that was hubris. How could one have skirted such simple safety protocols? Dude was controlling a very very very powerful experiment with a screwdriver in his hand being all that stood between the team of scientists and a staggering amount of radiation... Then it slips! 👀

[–] RamenJunkie@midwest.social 10 points 3 months ago (4 children)

Whats even more terrible about the second one, is Feynman over there telling him he was a fucking idiot for doing it that way and he (Slotin) was going to get himself killed.

[–] blockheadjt@sh.itjust.works 6 points 3 months ago

Anyone who hasn't read Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman, go check it out

[–] frunch@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

I think they were referring to it as "tickling the dragons tail" which certainly seems like a fitting description. It's absolutely bonkers how much radiation exposure happened in that moment.

[–] la508@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

And Fermi

[–] charonn0@startrek.website 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

They made a movie that dramatized the accidents really well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh89h8FxNhQ

[–] valen@piefed.social 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

The movie Fat Man and Little Boy

[–] OpenStars@piefed.social 1 points 3 months ago

This is why we probably should be more careful when we do things that could potentially like, oh I dunno, open up a black hole here on Earth. I mean, it's not like accidents never happen!! Oh wait... they DO!

[–] cabillaud@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

8.9cm diameter, 6.2kg. Says a lot. E: apparently it was 87°C too

[–] abcd@feddit.org 4 points 3 months ago

I can’t even imagine something so small being so dense that it weighs 6,2kg.