Have you ever read a fact that filled you with dread? I have, and thanks a lot, Smithsonian Magazine. Now I’ll never sleep again.
Last week, I was reading this article by Joseph Stromberg about nuclear forensics. Apparently scientists in Oak Ridge, Tenn., have been quietly creating the world’s most radioactive library. Actually, it’s a database that tracks the origins of nuclear materials on the black market or detonated in an attack.
Fascinating, right? I thought so, too. In fact, as I read the story, I recalled a conversation from the show “NCIS” between Supervisory Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (portrayed by Mark Harmon) and forensic genius Abby Sciuto (portrayed by Pauley Perrette):
ABBY: I used the victim’s measurements and the location of his injuries to determine the height of the vehicle based on point of impact. And then I used a database for vehicle grill dimensions. Can you believe someone put together a database of vehicle grill dimensions?
GIBBS: I was about to call Ripley’s.
ABBY: I had this boyfriend once – not the balloon guy – but this one was like a computer genius. He put together a database of databases. Well, it seems obvious in retrospect, like the pet rock.
So yeah, there pretty much is a database for everything. But the National Uranium Materials Archives is a database of truly alarming things. Then I read this delightful fact:
Since 1993, there have been 419 cases of smuggled or stolen nuclear materials worldwide, and experts say the threat is increasing.
Holy. Crap.
Over 400 cases of stolen nuclear material? That is utterly terrifying. And then I had this pleasant thought: Over 400 cases of stolen nuclear material… that we know about.
Okay, I’m off to build an atomic shelter and stock up on non-perishable food.
Have a lovely week!
