Atomic shadows: Haunting imprints of history's darkest hour
When atomic bombs struck Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, under the influence of the blinding light and heat released during the explosions, only shadows of people remained on sidewalks, playgrounds, or stairs.
"Hibakusha" - this is how those who survived the atomic bomb explosions are referred to in Japan. After their deaths, names are placed on memorials: there are 292,325 names in Hiroshima, and 165,409 in Nagasaki. The tragedy caught people in everyday situations back then. A famous example is the shadow of a person sitting on the steps at Sumitomo Bank in Hiroshima. This fragment, known as the "Human Shadow Etched in Stone", is now exhibited in the Hiroshima Peace Museum. It was acquired in 1971 to prevent the further fading of its shape.
How were "atomic shadows" created?
The scientific service Live Science explains in detail how "atomic shadows" were created. Professor Michael Hartshorne, a retired radiology specialist from the University of New Mexico, whose research is cited by the portal, presents the mechanism of their creation.
According to his explanations, after each bomb explosion, intense light and heat spread from the point of detonation, and people and objects encountered along the way blocked what was behind them, resulting in the "absorption" of light and energy. As a result of the bomb's detonation, the area around the figure was exposed, becoming lighter.
The "atomic shadows" left behind allowed the original colours of the surface before the explosion to be preserved. A nuclear fission reaction, the source of massive energy, occurs when a neutron strikes a heavy atomic nucleus, such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239 isotopes, leading to the splitting of the nucleus and triggering a chain reaction.
Atomic bombs were supposed to strike elsewhere
The American bomb "Little Boy" destroyed Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Approximately 90,000 people died at that time. Meanwhile, Nagasaki was attacked three days later by the "Fat Man" bomb, causing the deaths of 40,000 to 70,000 residents. The effects of this second explosion would likely have been greater if not for the fact that a hill surrounding one of the city's districts managed to weaken the force of the shock wave.
Initially, the second attack was supposed to target Kokura, but bad weather conditions forced the pilots to change plans and choose Nagasaki as an alternative target. This event gave rise to the Japanese phrase "Kokura's luck", meaning a narrow escape from danger. Kokura was initially supposed to be the alternative target for the Hiroshima attack as well, in case of adverse weather conditions.
