Project ToolsProject Info
The Neutron's Long Shadow

Traces of the Manhattan Project

The neutron was not discovered until 1932.  One hundred billion times smaller than the thickness of a human hair, it could stimulate the decay of certain forms of uranium and it could change uranium into plutonium, a chemical element unnatural to the earth.  In fact neutrons could create all manner of unnatural, radioactive, and extremely dangerous forms of elements.  Only 13 years later, the Manhattan project had harnessed the neutron’s special powers to produce a uranium bomb that obliterated Hiroshima and a plutonium bomb that devastated Nagasaki.  What had begun as a triumph of the human imagination and intellect had resulted in the loss of an innocence that could never be recovered.
 
In this project are images of some of the surviving facilities of the Manhattan Project.  Most were used heavily during the Cold War and all are now dormant or decommissioned.  Some of the radioactive byproducts produced in the manufacture of these nuclear explosives will be dangerous for millions of years so the environment can never be restored to its pristine state.  At best one can only hope to mitigate further consequences to nature and human health.  For such an impossibly tiny object, the neutron has indeed cast a long shadow.
 
Alpha Calutrons, 1st-Stage Source of Hiroshima Bomb Uranium, Oak Ridge, TN1943

Alpha Calutrons, 1st-Stage Source of Hiroshima Bomb Uranium, Oak Ridge, TN  1943

 
Beta Calutrons, 2nd-Stage Source of Hiroshima Bomb Uranium, Oak Ridge, TN1943

Beta Calutrons, 2nd-Stage Source of Hiroshima Bomb Uranium, Oak Ridge, TN  1943

 
X-10 Reactor, Pilot Plant for Production of Nagasaki Bomb Plutonium, Oak Ridge, TN 1943

X-10 Reactor, Pilot Plant for Production of Nagasaki Bomb Plutonium, Oak Ridge, TN   1943

 
Control Console, X-10 Pilot Plant for Production of Nagasaki Bomb Plutonium, Oak Ridge, TN 1943

Control Console, X-10 Pilot Plant for Production of Nagasaki Bomb Plutonium, Oak Ridge, TN   1943

 
K-25 North Building, Gaseous Diffusion Plant for Uranium Enrichment, Oak Ridge, TN1945

K-25 North Building, Gaseous Diffusion Plant for Uranium Enrichment, Oak Ridge, TN  1945

 
K-25 West Leg, Gaseous Diffusion Plant for Uranium Enrichment, Oak Ridge, TN1945

K-25 West Leg, Gaseous Diffusion Plant for Uranium Enrichment, Oak Ridge, TN  1945

 
B Reactor, Source of Nagasaki Bomb Plutonium, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1945

B Reactor, Source of Nagasaki Bomb Plutonium, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1945

 
B Reactor Front Face, Source of Nagasaki Bomb Plutonium, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1944

B Reactor Front Face, Source of Nagasaki Bomb Plutonium, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1944

 
B Reactor Control Console, Source of Nagasaki Bomb Plutonium, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1944

B Reactor Control Console, Source of Nagasaki Bomb Plutonium, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1944

 
B Reactor Valve Pit Controlling Cooling Water, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1945

B Reactor Valve Pit Controlling Cooling Water, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1945

 
River Pump House Pumps and Motors, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1945

River Pump House Pumps and Motors, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1945

 
Electrical Substation and B Reactor, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA

Electrical Substation and B Reactor, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA

 
Railroad Tracks and B Reactor, Source of Nagasaki Bomb Plutonium, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA1944

Railroad Tracks and B Reactor, Source of Nagasaki Bomb Plutonium, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA1944

 
Hot Reactor-Product Rail Cars and Storage Bldg, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1945

Hot Reactor-Product Rail Cars and Storage Bldg, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1945

 
Hot Reactor-Product StorageBuilding Interior, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1944

Hot Reactor-Product Storage  Building Interior, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1944

 
B Plant for Chemically Separating Plutonium from Reactor Products, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1945

B Plant for Chemically Separating Plutonium from Reactor Products, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1945

 
B Plant Entrance No. 15, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1945

B Plant Entrance No. 15, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1945

 
B Plant Rail Entrance, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1945

B Plant Rail Entrance, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1945

 
Gable Mountain Plutonium Vaults, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1945

Gable Mountain Plutonium Vaults, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1945

 
Gable Mountain Plutonium Vault, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1945

Gable Mountain Plutonium Vault, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA 1945

Project Tools
  • Digg
  • Stumbleupon
  • Reddit
  • Del.io.cious
  • Mister Wong
Other Projects From
 

Comments

In order to post a comment you must Log In.
Steven Losier
Steven Losier, 10-14-09
Thank You!!! You read my mind. As I looked through "Slouching towards Bethlehem" I was thinking, "This would look great in B&W"
Eduardo Rubio
Eduardo Rubio, 08-07-09
beautiful, ellegant and misterious work
Paul Ward
Paul Ward, 07-15-09
very nice!
Tiago Zontag
Tiago Zontag, 02-21-09
no words. great!
Peggy Fox
Peggy Fox, 12-25-08
Formal elegance and thoughtful intellect combined to make the hair on the back of my neck rise.
Jack Radcliffe
Jack Radcliffe, 12-24-08
A combination of a beautiful, and frightening post-apocalyptic landscape.
Graphistolage David
Graphistolage David, 12-24-08
great serie!!
 
Advertisement
 
Advertisement
 
Advertisement
 
Follow Behance on Twitter
 
 
We Want Feedback