Harry Daghlian

Haroutune Krikor Daghlian Jr. was born on May 4, 1921, and became a notable American physicist, contributing to the Manhattan Project during World War II. This pivotal project was responsible for the design and production of atomic bombs, marking a significant moment in history.

On August 21, 1945, Daghlian was involved in a critical mass experiment at the Omega Site of the Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico. Tragically, during this experiment, he accidentally dropped a tungsten carbide brick onto a bomb core weighing six point two kilograms, which was made of a plutonium-gallium alloy. This incident led to a criticality accident that would change the course of his life.

Following the accident, Daghlian suffered from severe radiation poisoning, ultimately leading to his untimely death twenty-five days later, on September 15, 1945. His unfortunate fate serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with nuclear physics and the criticality accidents that can occur in such high-stakes environments.

Daghlian's legacy is intertwined with that of the infamous