I remember having flash cubes in cameras when I was growing up, but I had no idea how literally explosive they really were.
There's a lot of build up and explanation, but the money shot really shows up around 20:30 and onward. It's then that they get the right resolution and exposure time to see what's really happening within the flash bulbs when they ignite.
Our phones are miraculous, but their flash isn't nearly as cool as a flash bulb ever was - much less the original limelight.
Dr Derek opens this video visiting what I consider pretty much hallowed ground, the Trinity test site in New Mexico. It's hallowed because it's horrible, but it's one of my bucket list sites to visit. Someday...
From there, Dr Derek goes on to tell the story of how Kodak figured out that the US government had exploded a nuclear bomb in the US desert by exploring the source of radioactive contamination in strawboard used to package x-ray film that they sold and that had begun to become fogged (exposed) in spite of it having never been used.
The Kodak scientists figured out that the beta radiation being emitted by whatever was in the strawboard had to have come from cerium-141, something that the exploring scientist knew had to be from a nuclear explosion based on his experience having worked on the Manhattan Project himself.
And then Dr Derek goes on to follow some of the more significant dangers of radioactive fallout from those above-ground nuclear tests - images of which you can see in the marvelous book 100 Suns by Michael Light.
The incestuous relationship between the government and Kodak was certainly problematic, and I'm glad that Dr Derek covers that aspect of our nuclear history.
When I grew up, my mom was big on encouraging me to play with science toys.
She signed me up for enrichment classes at the University of Louisville in the summer, took me to museums, and bought me every sciencey toy that I showed any interest in. Relevant to today's video, I specifically remember making SunPrints with this same cyanotype process that AlphaPooenix demonstrates in today's video.
It wouldn't necessarily be easy for you and me to get ahold of the chemicals that he uses here - and likely not safe either - but you can certainly buy SunPrints paper without much trouble. Give it a try.
