Science | Climate Change | History

The Runit Island Tomb: Radioactive Climate Change

Hanford is not the only atomic time bomb.

Absolutely gorgeous view. Say goodbye to it! Photo by Vance Berisford on Unsplash

Writing about the Hanford Site was something of a mood killer, to say the least.

Researching and studying the past can be harrowing, especially when you dip your toes into the more modern advances in technology. The history of radiation and how it has been studied is particularly alarming.

With how staggeringly dangerous it is, it’s so tempting to assume that it’s always been treated with gravitas and the appropriate level of caution.

Sadly, people are only human. And humans can be really, really bad at following safety regulations. If you’ve ever laughed at signs like “Don’t drink the acid,” in workshops, or wondered at warnings not to store explosives near fire, you’re not alone.

But here’s the thing — those signs only exist because, at one point, somebody was stupid enough to do exactly that. All of the safety warnings and strict rules in the world have been written with a pen inked with somebody’s blood.

The same can be said for the warning signs posted around the massive concrete dome on Runit Island.