chernobyl

Latest about chernobyl

New Safe Confinement structure covers the original sarcophagus and radiation underneath it.

Chernobyl's Crumbling Sarcophagus, Built to Contain Deadly Radiation, Will Be Torn Down

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published

Dismantling it will be "extremely complicated."

Planet Earth
A ferris wheel sits unused in an amusement park that never opened in the abandoned Pripyat city within Chernobyl's exclusion zone.

Why Didn't Chernobyl's Radiation Kill the Plants There?

By Stuart Thompson published

Here's why plant life is so resilient to radiation and nuclear disaster.

Plants
The abandoned town of Pripyat, located about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown.

10 Times HBO's 'Chernobyl' Got the Science Wrong

By Jim Smith published

Planet Earth
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Is It Safe to Visit Chernobyl?

By Mindy Weisberger published

Touring Chernobyl means observing strict safety rules.

Health
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Disaster Tourists Are Flocking to Chernobyl, Thanks to HBO Series

By Mindy Weisberger published

The Chernobyl exclusion zone is an unexpectedly popular destination.

Planet Earth
An image from the miniseries shows its depiction of the helicopters dumping sand and boron on the core to stop the release of radioactive materials.

Why Did People Take Iodine Pills After Chernobyl Exploded?

By Rafi Letzter published

In the HBO miniseries 'Chernobyl,' a Soviet physicist realizes that there's been a release of radioactive material nearby and immediately pops an iodine pill. Why?

Planet Earth
The Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

There Are Still 10 Chernobyl-Style Reactors Operating Across Russia. How Do We Know They're Safe?

By Stephanie Pappas published

The flawed reactor design that led to a catastrophic meltdown at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was used in several other places. Some are still operating.

Nuclear Energy
A gas mask among papers in Chernobyl.

How Did Radiation Affect the 'Liquidators' of the Chernobyl Nuclear Meltdown?

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published

What happens to the human body when exposed to such high levels of radiation?

Planet Earth
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Chernobyl vs. Fukushima: Which Nuclear Meltdown Was the Bigger Disaster?

By Mindy Weisberger published

Nuclear meltdowns at power plants in Chernobyl and Fukushima were the most devastating in recent history.

Planet Earth
In a still image from the HBO miniseries 'Chernobyl,' a firefighter stares at the burning reactor building in the hours after the disaster began.

When Chernobyl Blew, They Dumped Boron and Sand into the Breach. What Would We Do Today?

By Rafi Letzter published

In 1986, the Soviets dumped sand and boron from helicopters onto the exposed Chernobyl uranium core. How would we handle it today?

Planet Earth
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