Tokaimura Tragedy - History's Worst Criticality Accident
Half-Life Histories · Season 1 · Episode 29
On September 30, 1999, the Tokaimura nuclear accident became the worst criticality accident in modern nuclear history. At a uranium processing facility in Japan, workers accidentally triggered a self-sustaining nuclear reaction while preparing fuel for an experimental reactor. One of the technicians, Hisashi Ouchi, received a massive radiation dose and spent 83 days in intensive medical care before his death. Over time, his story spread across the internet with misleading claims about what really happened. This [HALF-LIFE HISTORY] is the true story.
Episode Details
Air date, runtime, timezone, and episode position.
Season
1
Episode
29
Air Date
17/Mar/2026
Air Time
—
Runtime
29 min
Overview
Episode summary.
On September 30, 1999, the Tokaimura nuclear accident became the worst criticality accident in modern nuclear history. At a uranium processing facility in Japan, workers accidentally triggered a self-sustaining nuclear reaction while preparing fuel for an experimental reactor. One of the technicians, Hisashi Ouchi, received a massive radiation dose and spent 83 days in intensive medical care before his death. Over time, his story spread across the internet with misleading claims about what really happened. This [HALF-LIFE HISTORY] is the true story.
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