NOTE: IN THE PORTION WHERE I EXPLAIN NUCLEAR FISSION, I MIX UP NUCLEI AND NEUTRON! I realised this post editing but I think it generally makes sense, but when I explain how the nuclei is hit, I say it releases a nuclei, it actually releases a neutron, the neutron then hits the next nuclei and releases more neutrons, that is what forms the chain reaction. Thanks for accepting my mistake :)

Welcome to When It Goes Wrong, the podcast about disasters, accidents and when things fall apart. On this episode I discuss the  the 1986 Chernobyl Disaster in which the reactor number 4 of the Chernobyl Power Plant suffered a full meltdown and explosion resulting in the worst nuclear disaster in history both in terms of cost and number of lives impacted. This is episode 1 of 2.

Please subscribe and review for more! You can follow the podcast on instagram at @whenitgoeswrongpod or email me at [email protected].

Sources:
Scott Manley on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3d3rzFTrLg&t=5s

Chernobyl, TV series

Midnight in Chernobyl - Adam Higgenbotham

https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/environment/2019/05/chernobyl-disaster-what-happened-and-long-term-impact

https://www.nei.org/resources/fact-sheets/chernobyl-accident-and-its-consequences

https://www.history.com/news/chernobyl-disaster-timeline#:~:text=April%2026%2C%201986%2C%201%3A23%3A40%20a.m.%3A,high%20into%20the%20night%20sky.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_disaster#Test_execution

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/radiation-sickness/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20377061

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-07-08-mn-2679-story.html