One time, a nuclear chemist ‘ate uranium’ on camera to demonstrate that it was safe.
Since 1986, when the Chernobyl accident rocked the world, the nuclear business has undoubtedly been the subject of much discussion.
Prior to all of that, however, nuclear chemist Galen Winsor travelled the Northwest of the United States for the conservative John Birch Society, sharing his thoughts on the industry’s over-regulation.
When Winsor started managing and even processing the plutonium extraction at the Hanford nuclear plant in Washington in the 1950s, he developed an interest in the subject.
In addition to being responsible for measuring and managing the inventory and storage of nuclear fuel, he later travelled around the United States, spoke on the radio, and produced numerous movies addressing the “misunderstanding” surrounding nuclear radiation.
Winsor went one step further to support his argument in 1985 when he was caught on camera brandishing a vial that contained what he claims was radioactive uranium oxide.
Winsor chose to move forward even though the name alone sounds deadly.
“The state of Washington sent two of its Gestapo agents over to my home to confiscate my uranium samples,” he said in a video, which has since been posted to the likes of YouTube and Twitter.
To the astonishment of those attending the lecture, Winsor surprisingly consumes the drug.
“What I’ve just done makes me high level nuclear waste,” he said shortly after taking a tongue reading with his Geiger counter.
“According to federal regulations, they will have to bury me 3,000 feet in Carlsbad, N.M.”
In addition, Winsor said, “I do this in front of audiences, and they go wild.”
About 20 years after ingesting the uranium oxide, Winsor passed away in 2008 at the age of 82. His obituary did not specify the cause of his death.
Many people on the internet have voiced their opinions, and the amazing video has reappeared several times.
“Galen is an absolute legend. If all of the engineers and scientists in society were like him, we’d be in a much better state,” one person commented on YouTube.
While a second added, “He lived until 82 which shows how it really is not dangerous in small portions.”
However, it’s unclear whether the material Winsor ‘ate’ was uranium, and you definitely shouldn’t be trying this at home.
This will ‘wreak havoc on the kidneys’ right away, according to How Stuff Works. Meanwhile, ‘eating’ fifty milligrammes might be fatal.