Chernobyl: The USSR’s Nuclear Disaster

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 พ.ย. 2018
  • We tried something a little experimental with this video, profiling a location instead of a person. If you enjoy this change, consider checking out our sister channel, Geographics, where we regularly focus on the stories and details of different places and events: / @geographicstravel
    →Subscribe for new videos every Monday and Thursday! th-cam.com/users/biographics...
    Visit our companion website for more: biographics.org
    Credits:
    Host - Simon Whistler
    Author - Morris M
    Producer - Jack Cole
    Executive Producer - Shell Harris
    Business inquiries to biographics.email@gmail.com
    Other Biographics Videos:
    Joseph Stalin: The Red Terror
    • Joseph Stalin: The Red...
    Winston Churchill Biography: In the Darkest Hour
    • Winston Churchill: In ...

ความคิดเห็น • 2.4K

  • @uncle7162
    @uncle7162 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2876

    Is anyone else addicted to these biographies?

    • @karlpj1
      @karlpj1 5 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      To anything he does

    • @ladymopar2024
      @ladymopar2024 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Totally 😊

    • @FozzQuaker
      @FozzQuaker 5 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Wouldn't go so far to say I'm addicted, but I do enjoy Simon's content on youtube

    • @ghenghiskhan39
      @ghenghiskhan39 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      I actually goof off at work for ages watching these vids. Good thing I'm my own boss...

    • @d4fm4n
      @d4fm4n 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yup, and I really don't mind at all

  • @the_road__warrior6185
    @the_road__warrior6185 5 ปีที่แล้ว +784

    “Would we lie to you??”
    Asked no honest government ever..

    • @chrismarshall4523
      @chrismarshall4523 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      That never happens....... 😂

    • @adriancoetzee65
      @adriancoetzee65 5 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Said no government at all

    • @BenwaysPatient
      @BenwaysPatient 5 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      >honest government
      Lmao

    • @RUSSIANinEngland
      @RUSSIANinEngland 5 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      "Honest government" sounds like a title for a fiction book

    • @Starae336
      @Starae336 4 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Is there even such a thing as an honest government??

  • @alexanderveritas
    @alexanderveritas 4 ปีที่แล้ว +365

    *The video that started an entire separate channel: **_Geographics._*

    • @faceballheadshot
      @faceballheadshot 3 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      I WAS LOOKING FOR THIS

    • @Battledongus
      @Battledongus 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Its maybe my fave channel now i cant pick one i love them all!

  • @Gun_Talk
    @Gun_Talk 4 ปีที่แล้ว +129

    I was born about 100 miles from there in 1991. Still have my Chernobyl zone ID book.

    • @chrismanning3911
      @chrismanning3911 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      How's your health

    • @peteswafflemeyer5620
      @peteswafflemeyer5620 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@chrismanning3911 cough cough

    • @randomgoose3704
      @randomgoose3704 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Dude that's an antique!

    • @Gun_Talk
      @Gun_Talk 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Lol I'm fine, 30 years old, never really had any health issues.

    • @sw9458
      @sw9458 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      How's the 3rd hand

  • @Tyus_
    @Tyus_ 5 ปีที่แล้ว +805

    I love the idea of not limiting biographics to just people. Maybe the next non-person biographic can be on the titanic.

    • @Biographics
      @Biographics  5 ปีที่แล้ว +112

      Interesting idea.

    • @miscellaneousshadow7452
      @miscellaneousshadow7452 5 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      I love this idea. Cover the book The Titain when you do please.

    • @candid798
      @candid798 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Miscellaneous Shadow Yes!

    • @lovelyshadow4293
      @lovelyshadow4293 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Another one: the Tower of London.

    • @LikeAStone1016
      @LikeAStone1016 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Yes! There's such an enormous wealth of interesting information on the subject of the Titanic, from Morgan Robertson's 'Futility' to the ship itself and the inquiries after the sinking, to the discovery of the wreck in the 1980's, that it would make a phenomenal Biographics video!

  • @BichaelStevens
    @BichaelStevens 5 ปีที่แล้ว +434

    That moment when you fulfill the energy production of the 5 Year Plan in 0.3 milliseconds

  • @anandixitin
    @anandixitin 5 ปีที่แล้ว +470

    You can do a video on Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984 in India. It killed thousands and poisoned hundreds of thousands. It has been one of the biggest industrial disasters in the world.

    • @babiryeethel8582
      @babiryeethel8582 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Perhaps but those who want to learn about that (apparently people are still suffering from the Bophal disaster 35 years on) they can do what I do and watch 'Seconds From Disaster'....every episode is on TH-cam; as much as I like Biographics, they should stick to just that; Biographies of people; no disaster bio they do can be as absorbing and interesting as seconds from disaster series can make it.

    • @grmpEqweer
      @grmpEqweer 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I'd like a Bhopal disaster bio.
      I don't know enough about Bhopal.

    • @grmpEqweer
      @grmpEqweer 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@babiryeethel8582
      I will look up seconds from disaster.

    • @davyt0247
      @davyt0247 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      That’s a good one, the Exxon Valdez accident and the Deepwater Horizon would be good ones as well.

    • @chrismarshall4523
      @chrismarshall4523 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Did you hear their new jingle???
      10 little, 9 little, 8 little Indians......
      JK, it was a joke I heard in 1984

  • @randallwatson8760
    @randallwatson8760 4 ปีที่แล้ว +416

    As a child adopted from the zone, thank you for this, Simon, more people need to know of this. It is at least in some small part why Ukranians despise Russians. Chernobyl is literally the gift that keeps on giving. What it give is death and suffering.

    • @4thcoming
      @4thcoming 4 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      I'm amazed that Stalker, a video game based in the present day Cherynobe zone has become so popular. It's like a recreation of the abandoned zone with criminals and monsters. Glad you're doing ok. Regards.

    • @kalagannaway397
      @kalagannaway397 4 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      I'm glad you were adopted and I hope you were given a nice life, which should be the fate of all children but unfortunately is not promised.

    • @rina5221
      @rina5221 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Russians as a nation don’t hold the responsibility for the government of 40 years ago. Believe me, we aren’t terribly happy with it or the ones to come after it either

    • @JohnDarksoul69
      @JohnDarksoul69 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      you should despise the soviet union and their leaders, friend. don't assume we're ok with what happened... but then again, i can't say i blame you.

    • @NB-ir1me
      @NB-ir1me 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@4thcoming how are you suprised that's big? Every single person in the us knows of Chernobyl

  • @zigmarx8664
    @zigmarx8664 5 ปีที่แล้ว +690

    We should all thank the thousands of men and women that sacrificed their health so that our world might survive and learn form it's mistakes

    • @andytesting123
      @andytesting123 5 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      Russia really made moves to clean it up at the expense of many, many lives - saving many more. A military decision at it 'finest'.

    • @m1nc3m3at
      @m1nc3m3at 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Hear, Hear

    • @danieladeutsch1708
      @danieladeutsch1708 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Thank you very much, for mentioning them. I have read there were about 600 000 - 800 000 people working on the aftermath of the catastrophe. The health aftermath is still unknown. :(

    • @hannibalcannibal3140
      @hannibalcannibal3140 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      no we shouldn't

    • @linadina1966
      @linadina1966 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      We should most certainly thank them, unfortunately i doubt most knew the danger they were in.

  • @dominikgoslawski627
    @dominikgoslawski627 5 ปีที่แล้ว +689

    Loving the new idea

    • @monzy-
      @monzy- 5 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Same

  • @dob4592
    @dob4592 5 ปีที่แล้ว +126

    Clicked on this by mistake. I'm not disappointed.

    • @Starae336
      @Starae336 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Me too only I don’t think I even clicked it just started playing lol

    • @dob4592
      @dob4592 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@Starae336 auto play kills data but discovers some gems

  • @Vladimir-hq1ne
    @Vladimir-hq1ne 5 ปีที่แล้ว +56

    Oh how I wish Gorbachev was there.
    Instead of my now deceased Kiev fireman second uncle.
    And old pal of mine, evacuated with his mom to Moscow suburb, became my classmate - I've seen him some 10 years ago last time.
    You know, we are over 46 y.o. now.

  • @williamapodaca8614
    @williamapodaca8614 5 ปีที่แล้ว +160

    "Hey, Ivan, wonder what happens when we turn off the safeties on this reactor"
    "Bet you won't"

  • @johnhargreaves3620
    @johnhargreaves3620 5 ปีที่แล้ว +186

    My colleagues and I put together a resin for treating the ground which would draw the radioactive material into trenches of resin at either end of the area it worked well and enable a lot of the outlying fields to have significantly reduced levels of danger. A considerable amount of work was done by non Russians such as myself and my colleagues from the UK and USA to solve the problems. The Russian/soviet government had neither the expertise, the will or the money to do anything about it. It was international cooperation that has done so much to reduce the effects of the disaster.
    The disaster caused incalculable loss in countries all over Europe and many animals in the UK were destroyed due to eating contaminated grass notably in Cumbria where thousands of sheep were slaughtered and burnt.
    I am now retired but this disaster was the non military incident that caused the most worry to me; and I have known a few military ones in my time from Cuba to The Kursk.
    Kind regards
    JohnH

    • @Cass63450
      @Cass63450 5 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      Thank you for sharing this.
      And for your and your colleagues' work.

    • @BoonesFarm50
      @BoonesFarm50 5 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Thank you for your work! Out of curiosity, would you mind replying with a link to more information about the resin you developed? I would love to learn more about it!

    • @timstadlmueller58
      @timstadlmueller58 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      As someone who cares about the earth, thank you.

    • @johnhargreaves3620
      @johnhargreaves3620 5 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @@BoonesFarm50 There is no link, it was developed in the 80s by a US/UK team it was relatively confidential at the time and sits as a specific development in the nuclear industries. It has only been used the once.
      The operation was complicated and the process was one of digging a trench at either end of a patch of ground and filling with resin, the resin was then charged with electrodes and the resin acted as the poles of a battery; the field was wetted out with water and the heavy nucleotides migrated to the resin. The resin was then dug out and disposed of generally deep underground to allow for safe decay.
      The process will work with other contaminants but they are much more difficult to measure the effect (nuclear material is easy to trace because of the radiation).
      Regards

    • @johnhargreaves3620
      @johnhargreaves3620 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @ Fukashima is more insidious than Chernobyl definitely and will last 1000s of years at some level (as will C but is more contained than F); the thing that put the willies up everybody at Chernobyl was the immediate risk of a meltdown explosion which would have contaminated vast areas and caused a laying waste of massive areas of fallout and millions of deaths for a long time.
      The earth is and always has been a radioactive planet that is why evolution has been a relatively quick process on earth; in time the earth will absorb and cope with Fukashima but I think Chernobyl could have had the risk of much more.
      I agree everyone that we should not stress the earth anymore than we should; my dream has always been since 1957 that we could harness fusion which would not produce contamination as this is the major risk to the planet; contamination could last for hundreds of thousands of years.
      The Universe puts us at risk all the time, and we have a precarious hold on life at best.
      I will be at one with the universe in the near future when my atoms will join it for the future, I do not want to join one which will be devoid of life.
      Kind regards

  • @whatevr99
    @whatevr99 5 ปีที่แล้ว +171

    What is the cost of lies? For the Soviet Union, after Chernobyl, apparently everything.

    • @koled224
      @koled224 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      How did lies cause this?

    • @sirandrelefaedelinoge
      @sirandrelefaedelinoge 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@koled224 Because the government wouldn't acknowledge the truth of what had happened...

    • @somethinglikethat2176
      @somethinglikethat2176 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@koled224 the flaws in the design were known beforehand. Also in a more transparent nation the information of this danger would have been known to the operators of the plant.

  • @redpancakes6144
    @redpancakes6144 4 ปีที่แล้ว +88

    "I mean, come on we're the soviet authorities, would we lie to you?"

    • @bl00dline360
      @bl00dline360 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thomas Solheim NIET?

    • @danielkron2513
      @danielkron2513 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      There's should be no blame on authorities except omega delayed reaction. This catastrophie is simply unsolvable for any country. All choices are wrong, you cant fix it. The only thing you can do is reduce future damage.
      No matter in which country it happened, it's still would be a disaster. I think the US also would be blamed for their theoretical managing of situation, because smaller nations more care about it's people, whereas superpowers like ussr and us have an image to preserve, propaganda to work, secrets to hold.
      Pity. Such a waste of human lives and science

    • @somethinglikethat2176
      @somethinglikethat2176 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@danielkron2513 the flaws in the reactor's design were known, but it was cheap.

  • @ZENMASTERME1
    @ZENMASTERME1 5 ปีที่แล้ว +310

    Anything That Simon Whistler Host Is Absolute Gold!!!

    • @santanu526
      @santanu526 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Yes indeed

    • @JeanLucCaptain
      @JeanLucCaptain 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      yes he is calm and unbiased in his presentations.

    • @anthonyvelez7367
      @anthonyvelez7367 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I agree!

    • @JS-mj3lb
      @JS-mj3lb 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      he's brilliant!

    • @van3158
      @van3158 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      He’s completely biased for liberals

  • @clintpmk2405
    @clintpmk2405 5 ปีที่แล้ว +105

    Only simon could make a fart joke about the worst Nuclear Disaster ever and keep it going on a world level untill the satisfying utter completion. Lmao

  • @dadzcoin5750
    @dadzcoin5750 4 ปีที่แล้ว +44

    I really, REALLY enjoyed this presentation... THANK you! I was just a young rural American kid of 26, raising my own young family when this disaster took place. Terrified by the media stories about the clouds of radiation that were billowing their way across the Planet, my young bride and I were seriously considering what, if any, protections we could offer to our little ones. A churchgoer as
    a young boy, I even consulted with my retired former church pastor as to whether or not these were the 'end times'.
    Over subsequent years, I have voraciously devoured any writings or video about those terrifying times. Yet, since that horrific day, I rarely hear any discussion about those brave men and women who dove headlong into the danger... unsure or disregarding the perils to their own lives, in order to defend their own families, communities, and even the world.
    Like so many REAL heroes in our rich past, perhaps they thought they were only mobilizing to save their own localities... and wound up saving humanity in the long run. I have been a subscriber of your channel(s) for quite a while now and am THRILLED with the excellent job you have done in researching and covering this topic. I would LOVE to see you cover more topics like this one. As George Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Ever your fan, -Don

  • @commandersmith2327
    @commandersmith2327 4 ปีที่แล้ว +43

    And thus the seeds of geographics was planted

  • @MegaZz23
    @MegaZz23 5 ปีที่แล้ว +566

    Do a biographics on Simon Whistler

    • @greulich9635
      @greulich9635 5 ปีที่แล้ว +62

      Simon already stated that he doesn't want people to know such private details

    • @MegaZz23
      @MegaZz23 5 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      @@greulich9635 That's understandable

    • @jaywilliams9294
      @jaywilliams9294 5 ปีที่แล้ว +27

      Who is Simon Whistler? I thought this was Jonny Sins

    • @Tarumarugan
      @Tarumarugan 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Jay Williams it is

    • @chip9649
      @chip9649 5 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      That should be done as the last video for this channel or if simon retires that would be a great memorium.

  • @elihentai8242
    @elihentai8242 5 ปีที่แล้ว +53

    My history teacher told me that her son was in a team eliminating the consequences of this disaster. The helicopters that were used in the process were never used after that, and even grass was not growing around them.

    • @CodexArgenteus
      @CodexArgenteus 5 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      That's freaky when grass won't grow around where you landed your chopper! :O

    • @user-gd8nm1mp1q
      @user-gd8nm1mp1q 5 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      in Chernobyl there are giant junks filled with irradiated vehicles that were used in liqudation

    • @romanzusman2892
      @romanzusman2892 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@elihentai8242 такое событие не забывается. Недавно смотрел тнтшный сериал про чернобыль. Исполнение конечно не очень, хромает можно сказать, но идея очень интересная

  • @Larpy1933
    @Larpy1933 5 ปีที่แล้ว +54

    Yes! The change of pace is a wonderful plan. I liked that you gave more emphasis to the human cost of the disaster rather than the basic technical details. It was totally fascinating in a hugely macabre way.

  • @Xray21207
    @Xray21207 5 ปีที่แล้ว +34

    I recently visited Chernobyl on a day trip whilst visiting Ukraine last month. The powerplant still has a lot of workers and employees but Chernobyl village and pripyat are so sad to walk around 😭

  • @kennbiggs9311
    @kennbiggs9311 5 ปีที่แล้ว +86

    I’m fine with videos about places. They are living entities when viewed from the human interaction with these locations.

  • @j.p.fagerback7966
    @j.p.fagerback7966 5 ปีที่แล้ว +86

    Great bio, you can clearly do more of these.
    Gorbachev was interviewed some years ago and he said that he realized that there was something really wrong in the USSR when the first information which reached him was not from the accident site it self, but from IATA based on the alarms which went off at Barseback in Sweden.

    • @davyt0247
      @davyt0247 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      There is another video where the radiation from Chernobyl set off alarms at a nuclear power station at Forsmark in Sweden.

    • @Fazupala
      @Fazupala 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@davyt0247 Swedish would never use "z" in that way - it's an exceedingly rare letter in Swedish. The plant is called "Forsmark". source: I'm Swedish

    • @davyt0247
      @davyt0247 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Per-Viktor ah, my bad sorry. Should be fixed now.

    • @Fazupala
      @Fazupala 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@davyt0247 No problem, I didn't take offence, just thought you might like to know :)

    • @SimonVanliew26
      @SimonVanliew26 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@Fazupala wow you dont seem like someone that gets bullied, at all.

  • @evilnewt
    @evilnewt 5 ปีที่แล้ว +151

    Simon saying fart really caught me off guard. 🤸🤸🤸🤸

    • @PondoSinatra680
      @PondoSinatra680 5 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Abigail Williams Sweden told Moscow “You denied it, you supplied it.”

    • @dylanthepickle6428
      @dylanthepickle6428 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hahaha that’s what I thought! @abigail Williams

    • @Zephyrmec
      @Zephyrmec 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Hey Ivan, pull my finger.....

    • @Taizu314
      @Taizu314 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      “The geopolitical equivalent of he who smelt it dealt it” is a phrase I never thought I’d hear.

    • @calisahardy4845
      @calisahardy4845 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      It sounded so regal.... Lol

  • @devastator6570
    @devastator6570 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Fun fact about the Swedish. When they detected the radiation from Chernobyl, they originally thought it was a leak at their own nuclear plant and did a full sweep and found no cracks.
    It’s only after that, they wondered who did it

    • @davyt0247
      @davyt0247 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yep Forzmark NPP the radiation alarm kept going off when the day shift on the Monday after the explosion tried to report to work, (they have to pass through a radiation monitor to do so), and everyone set the alarm off, so the first thing they did was check the entire plant from top to bottom, even checked the chimneys. Once they finished, nothing was wrong, their plant was in perfect condition. Then they checked the wind direction, and the only place it could be coming from was the Soviet Union, so they went “Hey U.S.S.R.! What the heck did you guys do?!?!?!?!?”

  • @scottcozad800
    @scottcozad800 5 ปีที่แล้ว +35

    I was living in Scotland when this happened. I remember the fear and local farmers checking their sheep with geiger counters. This is a very well done video. In particular I liked how you put the time scale into perspective at the end.
    If you are planning on doing more videos on places can I request one on Doggerland.

    • @Cass63450
      @Cass63450 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      +1 on the timeframe explanation

    • @RJeremyHoward
      @RJeremyHoward 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeah, it begins to put it in perspective. "Generations" being defined in 25 year increments, it's *only* been 160 generations since the pyramids.
      960.
      960 generations and that place *might* be habitable again.

    • @andytesting123
      @andytesting123 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yes, but you're not supposed to shove the geiger counters up their arse.

  • @Whitelightnin76
    @Whitelightnin76 5 ปีที่แล้ว +397

    Comparing nuclear fallout to a fart lmao

    • @christopherrhodes3228
      @christopherrhodes3228 5 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Some of the worst farts have particles that come for the ride, just as so with a nuclear explosion.

    • @raymondrogers1401
      @raymondrogers1401 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Nature be like that tho

    • @MyFairDinkum
      @MyFairDinkum 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Right? I love metaphors, and this is one of the best I have ever heard. It makes sense on so many levels that it's brilliant, lol

    • @o.osuq-madiq2008
      @o.osuq-madiq2008 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@raymondrogers1401 not so much nature farting... But farting on a national socioeconomic style level.
      Entire countries smelled ussr do that. Whew!

    • @UnchainedAmerica
      @UnchainedAmerica 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Simon was mocking the Soviet's PR failure to cover up the disaster with a shrug of the shoulders.

  • @Dan-uf2vh
    @Dan-uf2vh 5 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    so the Chernobyl disaster was like the 5 year old kid testing ice with his foot, solidly plunging himself in

  • @michelleroxy21
    @michelleroxy21 5 ปีที่แล้ว +85

    I’ve watched a lot of videos on Chernobyl, but this one was definitely the most informative. Thanks, Simon💖

    • @humbertocobian4740
      @humbertocobian4740 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You look like a bug that fell in a makeup palette lol.

    • @ember-evergarden
      @ember-evergarden 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      smh kyle hill's is much better.

  • @brentgranger7856
    @brentgranger7856 5 ปีที่แล้ว +29

    The city of Pripyat and other atomic cities in the USSR were, as Simon points out, paradises for the Soviet worker. Living in these towns was a privilege for the Soviet worker. This disaster is an example of the flaws of communism, especially when you give better living standards to a specific group of workers determined to stay there by all means necessary. The worker may object to safety practices, but would either submit to the standard or be exiled from paradise. From what I've read, the #4 reactor was hastily built just so the workers could enjoy bonuses.

    • @ladycheyne5607
      @ladycheyne5607 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      This sounds like American capitalism, too. The top percenters are willing to do anything to stay in their spot🤔

    • @jeff2049
      @jeff2049 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Brent Granger yeah honestly i dont think this disaster is in any way an example of the flaws of communism. communism definitely has its flaws but i dont really see the connection here. in fact, a friend of mine lives in the middle of nowhere, in texas, working 12 hour shifts (he was a geology major) daily, in boring conditions, for 3 months straight, then gets 2 weeks off. but he has to do it bc the pay is decent. on that outlook, i guess we can say both capitalism and communism have their flaws, though again, i dont see the correlation to either economic system, as both scenarios can happen under either system

    • @jordan_roadhouse4798
      @jordan_roadhouse4798 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@jeff2049
      At least in capitalism you can own private property.

  • @MegaZz23
    @MegaZz23 5 ปีที่แล้ว +225

    Also, Simon looks like a more intellectual version of Johnny Sins lmao

    • @CovfefeDotard
      @CovfefeDotard 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Almighty Loaf 😮

    • @Kenxclout
      @Kenxclout 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

    • @MegaZz23
      @MegaZz23 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Minus the beard

    • @joshuabryant9845
      @joshuabryant9845 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      can never unsee this. thx

    • @boost1606
      @boost1606 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Burned into my brain.

  • @_mgiles
    @_mgiles 5 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Chernoblyl is so fascinating to me. the end really helped put into perspective of how much of a disaster it really is.

    • @philipeby5418
      @philipeby5418 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You should do more research. They got many many things, very very wrong

  • @Wyattearpp
    @Wyattearpp 5 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    You mentioned the Deepwater Horizon, perhaps a future Biographics could be on that disaster? Love the idea of expanding to events as well

  • @Biographics
    @Biographics  5 ปีที่แล้ว +508

    Edit: new channel coming very soon. th-cam.com/channels/HKRfxkMTqiiv4pF99qGKIw.html
    We are very excited about the response to this location bio, so to speak. Look out next (2019) when we will be launching another channel focusing on locations and geography. We would love your thoughts on this. More details about this will be posted in our community section found here: th-cam.com/channels/lnDI2sdehVm1zm_LmUHsjQ.htmlcommunity
    Edit No. 2: Geographics is a huge success and has just surpassed 500,000 subscribers! Thanks to all of you for helping it grow.

    • @DanielMunnNOLA
      @DanielMunnNOLA 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Biographics cannot wait! This video was incredible. I’ve watched it 3 times already

    • @DonHomersdonut
      @DonHomersdonut 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Biographics great video so interesting. Keep up the good work. Vietnam war video?

    • @BMD19840
      @BMD19840 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Biographics thank you, a friend recommended me of this cuz I was interested in Chernobyl and The Elephant's Foot, good work

    • @marjieestivill
      @marjieestivill 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Fantastic that there will be a “biography” of places, treating them as social phenomena tied to a particular place...you can range broadly, between Area 51, the Hague, Jerusalem, the Red Square, Silk Road, Taiwan, Washington DC, the North Pole, and Zanzibar.

    • @aurelijusvienasdu5984
      @aurelijusvienasdu5984 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Most of the chernobyl tales on youtube or tv were half assed ..it’s a joy to see that someone took their time and did it properly
      Love your format keep it up I’m definitely subscribing your new channel if you launch it 👍

  • @roymartin500
    @roymartin500 5 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    The literary fart comparisons are comedy gold.

  • @JBrodo
    @JBrodo 4 ปีที่แล้ว +32

    "The story of a town that blew up an empire." *Kisses fingertips* perfect.

  • @Vesnicie
    @Vesnicie 5 ปีที่แล้ว +158

    Great video. The HBO series currently airing is also definitely worth the watch.

    • @TheMorganVEVO
      @TheMorganVEVO 5 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Yes! It was excellent!

    • @liamweaver2944
      @liamweaver2944 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@TheMorganVEVO Well actually it’s not great, but not terrible

    • @Blinkptx
      @Blinkptx 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I need to rewatch it soon. Definitely one of the best shows I've ever seen.

    • @somethinglikethat2176
      @somethinglikethat2176 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@liamweaver2944 about a 3.6 on my dosimeter

    • @ChickenLiver911
      @ChickenLiver911 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I dunno. It was obviously very entertaining to watch, but it was ridiculously unfair to Anatoly Dyatlov. He might not have been easy to work with, but he wasn’t quite as bad as they depicted him.

  • @brotherjumbi7949
    @brotherjumbi7949 5 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Grand idea, I think. I'd love more Biographics about historical events and places.

  • @zacharyboettcher9815
    @zacharyboettcher9815 5 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    I really enjoyed this kind of bio. You should definitely do more of these

  • @MrTony1995
    @MrTony1995 5 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    Anyway, nuclear power is the most efficient energy source on the planet, and (while the plant doesn´t go boom boom) one of the most friendly to the enviroment, this is why we need to put the ITER proyect into overdrive.

    • @RankinMsP
      @RankinMsP 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      No. No it isn't.

    • @somethinglikethat2176
      @somethinglikethat2176 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@RankinMsP fossil fuels kill millions per year in pollution, no worries.
      Millions of solar panels are manufactured containing things like lead and cadmium, yeah we should think about recycling them one day. To the third world for now I guess.
      Btw nuclear is lower carbon than solar.

  • @yourmajesty3569
    @yourmajesty3569 5 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I've been addicted to this channel. And now have another channel from you to look forward to!!!!
    I love history, and you give me my fix almost daily. MORE!!!

  • @FishMcFish420
    @FishMcFish420 5 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    "It's not like the entire USSR was going to complex in the next half decade or so, right?"
    ~*The Gang Collapses the Entire USSR*~

  • @MichalProzac
    @MichalProzac 5 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Most interesting. A small point to make - Soviets originally wanted to use robots to take care of the cleanup not people. What they found out was that the radiation destroyed their electronics. Now the new sarcophagus again uses robots to deal with the mess. This time the robots should last longer as the cesium 137 which is the main contaminant has decayed away, or at least most of it. The 24 thousand years in the end well... that is the Plutonium which was in the reactor. And there was not as much of it so it poses a risk only if you would eat or drink it. Or hold it near you for example in clothes (as dust particles). But even now living in "The zone" would not dramatically shorten your life span. It would just increase your cancer risk. There is a group of scientists who lived and worked directly with the reactor for over 10 years and most of them (except one heart failure) are fine.

  • @DMJoeBing
    @DMJoeBing 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Rewatching this after the Top Tenz video from the other day and realized this was sort of a backdoor pilot for Geographics.
    Well played.

  • @warsmithmia
    @warsmithmia 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Regarding the Swedish response: the reason it was caught was because workers at Forsmark NPP measured higher doses of radiation OUTSIDE the powerplant than Inside. After looking for leaks a while they made a quick calculation over wind directions the last few days and Welp, there was only one possible source:
    "Hey guys! Guess what the USSR just did!"

    • @davyt0247
      @davyt0247 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      What happened was the day shift at Forsmark NPP tried to report to work, and kept setting off the radiation alarm. They got worried (can’t be too safe when nuclear fuel is involved), so they checked the entire place from top to bottom (even inside the chimneys!). Nothing was wrong with the plant so it had to be coming from somewhere else. They took measurements, then checked the wind direction, then went “Hey U.S.S.R.!!! What the heck did you do?!?!?!?

  • @DCGamingNetwork
    @DCGamingNetwork 5 ปีที่แล้ว +50

    I'm surprised, you didn't talk about the mass of nuclear fallout known as "The Elephant's Foot"

    • @zepher664
      @zepher664 5 ปีที่แล้ว +31

      Nuclear fallout is nuclear material that is propelled into the upper atmosphere and falls out of the sky. The Elephant's Foot is a radioactive mass of lava-like fuel containing material, or corium.

    • @tukyleith
      @tukyleith 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      The Elephants Foot is very interesting.

    • @AshleyBlackwater
      @AshleyBlackwater 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Its not really all that relevant to the disaster a a whole. A Lot of things where skimmed over if not mentioned at all. It's a huge subject.

    • @dx1450
      @dx1450 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      The Elephant's Foot isn't fallout, it's the remains of the reactor core which melted down. It's still highly radioactive and very hot to this day. It's so radioactive that if you were to enter the underground room it's in, you would die very quickly. In fact, when they roll cameras into the room to look at it, the cameras only work for a limited amount of time before the radiation destroys them, IIRC.

    • @joshMorgan111
      @joshMorgan111 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      There is a real life lore video about it if you are interested

  • @calcuttarasta
    @calcuttarasta 5 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    Bless you Simon Whistler. The world is better (and more intelligent) because of you and your team's exhaustively researched efforts.

  • @coltburns6318
    @coltburns6318 5 ปีที่แล้ว +107

    How many people are watching this after watching hbos amazing Chernobyl miniseries lol?

  • @ricardomayorga4613
    @ricardomayorga4613 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Love the idea of a place instead of a person. Nice twist. Will definitely be in the lookout for more. thanks

  • @TC-cx4gm
    @TC-cx4gm 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Absolutely love this idea! Keep doing these kind of place event videos!

  • @BronxLockPicker60Rodriguez
    @BronxLockPicker60Rodriguez 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Simon, thank you for this wonderful peice , I was in tears throughout the whole video. My heart goes out to everyone there , especially the Liquidators.
    Now a small word on you.
    You are my favorite TH-camr in this genre. I started watching Top Tenz about ten years ago. Keep up the amazing work.

  • @HiltTilt
    @HiltTilt 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Love the idea, please continue this series!

  • @ramendragon3628
    @ramendragon3628 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I like the change of pace; keep up the good work mate!

  • @CreedK
    @CreedK 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I'd love more videos about places and events! Nice change of pace and more variety.

  • @freddieellis8449
    @freddieellis8449 5 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Loved it! Always find this channel fascinating.
    Opens up a whole new sector for topics. Like Tiananmen Square, the Massacre of Glencoe and 9/11.
    Please keep going.

  • @jamesrakeii795
    @jamesrakeii795 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I've been binging all of these related channels in the past couple weeks. Lot of interesting stuff. I'll definitely keep watching.

  • @levz360
    @levz360 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I binge watch all of your videos from several of your channels. I tend to watch them in playlists so I fail to like every one I watch or even enjoy. I apologize for this and would like to say how much I appreciate these educational and fascinating videos. Everything from the writers, editors, and of course, you Simon. Thank you guys and gals.

  • @mahadaalvi
    @mahadaalvi 5 ปีที่แล้ว +89

    How about make this a different series called something like "Docugraphics"? I feel like this is more of a mini documentary more than a biography 🤷🏻‍♂️

    • @actuallywaffles5267
      @actuallywaffles5267 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I mean he's got like 1500 channels, so I can see why he might not wanna add another to the list.

    • @CreeperHyena
      @CreeperHyena 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@actuallywaffles5267 yes, and on these other channels, he has stuff like this.

    • @Biographics
      @Biographics  5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      We are going to have a Geography channel in 2019.

    • @justinianthegreatt
      @justinianthegreatt 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Biographics can't wait

  • @MorkaSsailing
    @MorkaSsailing 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Great work, more of those please

  • @elizabethferrier6429
    @elizabethferrier6429 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    This is an excellent video. I would welcome more of this calibre.

  • @fikanera838
    @fikanera838 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    I discovered this channel last week when the Henrietta Lacks video popped up in my feed. As soon as Simon mentioned multiple videos a week, I realised there must be quite a team involved, so thankyou very much to you all. I love the idea of 'place' biographies, & particularly enjoy the lesser-known topics, or ones, like this, with a lot of suppressed information. Ok, I'm off to check your back catalogue!

  • @Skeezix1
    @Skeezix1 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    You didn't mention the Elephant's Foot at all.

  • @elhombredeoro955
    @elhombredeoro955 5 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    Do one on Bhopal gas tragedy.

    • @elhombredeoro955
      @elhombredeoro955 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@namgyallharipa8206 I am half Indian and half Argentinian. I have never been to Mexico.

  • @royallong10176
    @royallong10176 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    These are great keep em coming

  • @floydroadheroes
    @floydroadheroes 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Excellent video! Loved it. Love all your videos! THanks for them all Simon. Love your wit as well included!

  • @vaikkajoku
    @vaikkajoku 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    10:12 molten reactor fuel hitting water does not cause a nuclear explosion. ffs...

  • @jdpeh4me
    @jdpeh4me 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Very interesting and heartbreaking. I remember when all this stuff happened at Cherynobyl. I was just 8 years old at the time. I can remember seeing the pictures in the National Geographic magazine, and thinking this is horrible! It's interesting that anyone would want to visit this place today, since it's so radioactive! Keep up the good work, guys. Your biographies are always quite good and interesting.

    • @stunitech
      @stunitech 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      I think it's pretty safe as long as you don't spend a lot of time there. Radioactivity is a cumulative thing so it's all about dose over time

  • @t1dmpedsnurse59
    @t1dmpedsnurse59 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I really love these kinds of videos! I’m a nurse and I work overnights so I need something to listen to. I tend to listen to your videos while I’m charting. More please!

  • @takemywatch
    @takemywatch 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    More event bios please - fantastic work!

  • @RobertLeather
    @RobertLeather 5 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    If the reactor had hit the water it would not have created nuclear explosion, as you stated. The explosion would have been thermal but the resulting contamination would have rendered the area uninhabitable for over a hundred years.
    As for the death of that two divers who released the water. Not true, they were found to be alive. It's in the Wikipedia article with lots of references.

    • @davidmckenzie4373
      @davidmckenzie4373 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I'm not sure who to believe. The hour and a half documentary featuring interviews with former Soviet leaders and leaders from the International Atomic Energy Agency or the wikipedia article and Robert here

    • @HydrikMasqued
      @HydrikMasqued 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@davidmckenzie4373 why not both

    • @HydrikMasqued
      @HydrikMasqued 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@davidmckenzie4373 why not both

  • @joedarul3910
    @joedarul3910 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Love it, you should do more, tombstone Arizona, Rome, maybe Kyoto.

  • @therealnickynurotic8930
    @therealnickynurotic8930 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Loved the video , love the new direction

  • @lynnmckinney4827
    @lynnmckinney4827 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I love this video! Thank you for posting it!

  • @wtfisditvoorbullshit
    @wtfisditvoorbullshit 5 ปีที่แล้ว +34

    IMDB top 250 best tv shows:
    Number 1: Chernobyl

    • @MiniM69
      @MiniM69 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Sambal Oelek Please. This isn’t the best show ever...The Wire, Breaking Bad, GOT. These are the best shows of all time.

    • @wtfisditvoorbullshit
      @wtfisditvoorbullshit 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@MiniM69
      Yeah, it's a very good show but number one..? Probably not

    • @bantabury
      @bantabury 4 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      @@MiniM69 GoT is overrated

    • @shihtzu291
      @shihtzu291 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@MiniM69 you forgot Peaky Blinders!

    • @adamfrazer5150
      @adamfrazer5150 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      So subjective and time-based.
      Seriously though ? ROME !

  • @Wittle_Boyo
    @Wittle_Boyo 5 ปีที่แล้ว +268

    Hows about a Biographics on Stan Lee?

    • @angiecuteass
      @angiecuteass 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      total waste of time...

    • @Crackdalf
      @Crackdalf 5 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      They probably wouldn't do one so soon after his death

    • @TomGallagherSuperboyBeyond
      @TomGallagherSuperboyBeyond 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      not really. He was an incredibly influential person in pop culture. Maybe more-so (no. Definitely more so) than George Lucas.

    • @Wittle_Boyo
      @Wittle_Boyo 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Exactly. When I made the suggestion, I don't think he'd capitalize on tragedy. No, I imagine he'd make the video in good spirit and to inform people. I didn't imagine any malicious intent here.

    • @nevio2658
      @nevio2658 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Widdle_PuppyFace I mean, I wouldn’t call Stan Lee’s natural death a “tragedy”. That seems a bit dramatic. I’m sure they will release a bio on Stan Lee in the next month or two.

  • @andresotondo1045
    @andresotondo1045 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Really nice format!

  • @izzojoseph2
    @izzojoseph2 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Amazing.
    Such important history with great detail.
    I’m on the road a LOT and prefer your stations to anything on the radio!

  • @StoriesbyIrish
    @StoriesbyIrish 5 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    Other "location bios" that I think would be interesting:
    Titanic
    Centralia
    Pearl Harbor
    Salem
    St. Augustine

    • @StoriesbyIrish
      @StoriesbyIrish 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      There is also a town underwater in Romania, I believe, that would be a good episode for Biographics to cover.

    • @MiniM69
      @MiniM69 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Atlantis, the Library at Alexandria, Tombstone, the Alamo

    • @otnat2094
      @otnat2094 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Wow. Someone else who knows about Centralia. I'd love to see a biography of that city.

    • @TheWolfElder
      @TheWolfElder 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      As someone that's relatively close to Centralia.. I agree.

    • @themasterninja110
      @themasterninja110 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      I second the titanic and Salem.

  • @Edq51
    @Edq51 5 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    Great idea, do some more events

  • @raynee01
    @raynee01 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Loved that you did a biographics on an area/event. I definitely hope you do more.

  • @agentsmith2378
    @agentsmith2378 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Excellent work 👍

  • @klardfarkus3891
    @klardfarkus3891 5 ปีที่แล้ว +40

    It is not a certainty that Chernobyl will prove to be a bigger disaster than Fukushima. Though the Chernobyl disaster polluted the air, Fukushima involves at least three times the volume of radioactive material and that material is poisoning the oceans. So Fukushima over time may cause greater damage.

  • @thecosmicaesthetic
    @thecosmicaesthetic 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I want too see more disaster videos and maybe disease outbreaks throughout history. You would make some pretty damn good videos

  • @adrian1278
    @adrian1278 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    This was absolutely awesome!!!! Please do more bios!!

  • @MrSwanseajames
    @MrSwanseajames 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I really enjoyed the biography. A big thank you to the team for an excellent informative production.

  • @monzy-
    @monzy- 5 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Its crazy to think that Chernobyl wont be habitable by humans until sometime like year 22,000

    • @ScooterinAB
      @ScooterinAB 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hell. It's crazy that it's going to take 100 years to dismantle the plant underneath the new sarcophagus. Perhaps this unthinkable scale of time is why we need to be absolutely sure about using nuclear power.

    • @zappawoman5183
      @zappawoman5183 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      The wildlife has done well, as the main danger is cancer which takes a long time to develop and animals like wolves and owls have such a short lifespan it doesn't really effect how long they live. With people out of the area, the wildlife and vegetation has flourished. There is a thriving population of wolves, birds and cats who have turned feral.

    • @ScooterinAB
      @ScooterinAB 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      ... If you ignore all the cancer, mutations, and infertility. I wouldn't call species dying out "thriving."

  • @chickendrawsdogs3343
    @chickendrawsdogs3343 5 ปีที่แล้ว +33

    I don't know if I'm ready to see the upcoming HBO's series "Chernobyl"...

    • @Edax_Royeaux
      @Edax_Royeaux 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Well, episode one was pretty good. Honor the memory of those firefighters by witnessing their struggle.

    • @andym28
      @andym28 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Its awesome

    • @pyromania1018
      @pyromania1018 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      It's a powerhouse miniseries.

    • @rurushu8094
      @rurushu8094 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Chicken Draws Dogs I’ve the whole thing 3 times and I’m probably gonna go for another run.

    • @nerissacrawford8017
      @nerissacrawford8017 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It is a lot to consume. Get ready for long periods processing what you've had taken. It will leave you numb. It will leave you bereft. Breathe. It is an excruciating ride, infuriating too.

  • @raff696
    @raff696 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    great stuff keep it coming!

  • @carriebradon2807
    @carriebradon2807 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Loved the biography of a place! Keep it up!

  • @lagitanavderoscio
    @lagitanavderoscio 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I respect your profound fart analogy.
    BTW, great idea. How about Panama Canal?

  • @Deanna974
    @Deanna974 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Your accent and cadence sometimes reminds me of Nigel from the The Wild Thornberrys :)

  • @ronque23
    @ronque23 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love your biographies of businesses and events Simon! Keep em coming.

  • @tylerthompson5859
    @tylerthompson5859 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I regret that I have not found your channel sooner. Betwixt your biographics and geographics, I have binged your content like a good podcast.

  • @cardhutt
    @cardhutt 5 ปีที่แล้ว +29

    the silentest and deadliest.. russia dealt it

    • @dcarbs2979
      @dcarbs2979 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      technically Soviet Union

    • @MusicGamesEverything
      @MusicGamesEverything 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Well it happened in the Ukraine, not Russia

  • @ruralstar
    @ruralstar 5 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Only recently discovered your channel. I'm really enjoying all of the videos. You have a straightforward style when presenting your topics. A little editorializing but mostly 'just the facts'. I've learned quite a lot about people and I'm looking forward to your take on other events. Great first choice in Chernobyl. Your videos make me want to learn more about the topics. The absolute best use of the internet is education IMO.

  • @kaybruce8159
    @kaybruce8159 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Excellent video, Simon. I learned so much. Please keep going...

  • @curlytemple79
    @curlytemple79 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Loved this! I always had trouble understanding exactly what happened at Chernobyl. This was well done. Ty