Blue Snow
One of the more bizarre consequences of the atmospheric nuclear tests of the 1950s was that, hundreds of miles away, radioactive blue snow began to fall.
Traveling salesman M.C. Myer was one of the first to report seeing this phenomenon in 1953, while driving through Shasta County, California:
Traveling salesman M.C. Myer was one of the first to report seeing this phenomenon in 1953, while driving through Shasta County, California:
He said the snow appeared phosphorescent and "glowed" when his lights struck it. When he stepped from his car to investigate the snow, his face "tingled" and his eyes "watered" upon approaching it, he said.
Los Angeles Times - Apr 10, 1953
St. Louis Post Dispatch - Aug 7, 1994
Comments
"Ra-di-a-tion. Yes, indeed. You hear the most outrageous lies about it. Half-baked goggle-box do-gooders telling everybody it's bad for you. Pernicious nonsense. Everybody could stand a hundred chest X-rays a year. They ought to have them, too." - Noted scientist J. Frank Parnell
Posted by KDP on 07/03/19 at 10:48 AM
There's an important tip here. Assuming we don't want the gamma rays to get in, we should trade our tin foil hats for lead ones.
Posted by Virtual in Carnate on 07/03/19 at 12:06 PM
Did anyone follow up with Mr Myer about his health in the following weeks or months?
Posted by Brian on 07/04/19 at 09:21 PM
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Category: Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters | 1950s