Chernobyl

I thought I'd post something a bit different today. Today marks 28 years since the disaster at Chernobyl on Thursday 26th of April 1986, in which one of the nuclear reactors malfunctioned, exploded and led to a massive release of radioactive material in the worst nuclear disaster in history. This was slightly before my time indeed (I was born on 17th October 1986), but this event has had such an impact, for me growing up I heard so much about this and the after-effects, and even now, they are working on a new concrete sarcophagus for the reactor as the original one is nearing the end of its lifespan. Even now, we are still feeling the effects of the radiation across Europe. Learning about radiation in school was something that always scared me, but amazed me at the same time, and the events in Chernobyl have contributed to the uncertainty that many have about nuclear power. The power we have discovered is intense and perhaps something of a Pandora's Box.
I have compiled some interesting links which tell different stories about Chernobyl and life in Pripyat and the surrounding area. Terrifying, fascinating and beautiful, it is a place I hope to visit one day.

So this post was very different to what I normally post on the blog, but it is something I am so fascinated in, with my interest in science. It is basically just a tribute and post remembering the hardships and struggles people endured and still do to this day.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/04/remembering-chernobyl-ukraine-201442665946572911.html

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/24102d/28_years_ago_i_lived_in_the_northern_neighborhood/

 http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/the-battle-of-chernobyl/

http://www.buzzfeed.com/lukelewis/haunting-pictures-of-abandoned-chernobyl

http://www.buzzfeed.com/danieldalton/chilling-photos-chernobyl-28-years-later

http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/what-happens-when-wildlife-reclaims-chernobyl

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/europe/2006/chernobyl/default.stm

http://www.lovethesepics.com/2013/03/chernobyl-exclusion-zone-adrenaline-radiation-urbex-a-good-day-to-die-hard/