Dr Kit Chapman, a science historian from Falmouth University, takes us into the historical context and significance of atomic cloud sampling, a dangerous method employed during the Cold War era. The focus is on the Ivy Mike nuclear test in 1952, where pilots flew into a thermonuclear bomb cloud to gather data, contributing to element discovery and the development of atomic science. The ramifications and loss experienced due to this risky operation are also discussed, shedding light on the high stakes of this secret procedure.

★You can follow Kit on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/ChemistryKit

★Check out Kit's website at: https://kitchapman.co.uk/

★Buy Superheavy: Making and Breaking the Periodic Table by Kit Chapman at The Damcasters Bookshop.org in the UK. 10% of each sale goes to supporting the podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11015/9781472953926

★Buy Racing Green: How Motorsport Science Can Save the World by Kit Chapman at The Damcasters Bookshop.org in the UK. 10% of each sale goes to supporting the podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11015/9781472982193 

★Watch the Operation Ivy - Nuclear Fusion Test Film (1952) on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/be24Ft4kIa0?si=YYI30Wd5uhSpOgcB

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Please check out the latest from our sponsor, the Pima Air and Space Museum, through the links below:

★Visit the Pima Air and Space Museum’s website here: https://pimaair.org/

★Learn more about the Titan Missle Museum here: https://titanmissilemuseum.org/

★Find out who is in the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame here: https://pimaair.org/about-us/arizona-aviation-hall-of-fame/

★Want to know how the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum is progressing? Find out more here: https://www.tucsonmilitaryvehicle.org/

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