Oppenheimer effectively establishes that while an atomic bomb itself cannot destroy the entire world, the lingering impact of hazardous radiation raises questions about the duration of sterility on affected land.
As eloquently portrayed by Cillian Murphy’s J. Robert Oppenheimer, the probability of incinerating the entire world in a scorching cloud of ionization is relatively low. However, living in an area where a detonation has occurred remains impossible due to the creation of long-lasting radioactive isotopes. The atom bomb is truly a harbinger of devastation, transforming once fertile lands into desolate wastelands. Hence, we must ask: How long will it take for the atmosphere and the ecosystem to recover? Specifically, is it now safe to visit the site of the Trinity Test, where Oppenheimer unleashed the first atomic bomb in history?
Is the Trinity site still radioactive?
Even after 75 years, the radiation levels at ground zero in the Jornada del Muerto desert remain ten times higher than the natural radiation in the environment.
According to Atomic Archive, a one-hour visit to the Trinity site would expose you to 0.5 to 1 milliroentgen of radiation. When put into perspective, this exposure level is not high. On average, an adult in the United States is naturally exposed to 90 milliroentgens of radiation every year from sources such as UV light or food. Therefore, your body can likely tolerate a brief visit to the Trinity site.
The key to understanding radiation lies in measuring the exposure over a specific time span. While your body may receive 90 milliroentgens annually, the amount of natural exposure at any given moment is much lower and not fatal. So, although spending some time near ground zero won’t prove immediately lethal, it still carries certain risks. Additionally, the glassy substance known as Trinitite, found in the vicinity of the Trinity site, contains higher levels of radiation and should not be touched without proper radiation shielding.
Considering this perspective, nuclear bombs appear to be the most foolish invention of mankind. When the government dropped these bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, tens of thousands died almost instantly, while many others succumbed to radiation sickness and various complications during the aftermath. Thus, it is not only the mushroom cloud of death that demands concern in nuclear detonations, but also the invisible rays of radiation that permeate the surrounding environment.
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Khushi Patel is a science fiction author who lives in Austin, Texas. She has published three novels, and her work has been praised for its originality and imagination. Khushi is a graduate of Rice University, and she has worked as a software engineer. She is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, and her books have been nominated for several awards.
