Gold teeth caps were made to save physicist Alvin Graves from radioactive exposure from his own teeth after he was accidentally irradiated in a nuclear chain reaction during an infamous “Tickling the Dragon’s Tail” test in 1946 at Los Alamos, NM
Title: The Golden Shield: How Gold Teeth Caps Saved a Scientist from His Own Radioactive Teeth After a Nuclear Accident
Meta Description: Discover the chilling story of physicist Alvin Graves, who needed gold teeth caps to block radiation from his own irradiated teeth after surviving a 1946 criticality accident at Los Alamos during the infamous “Tickling the Dragon’s Tail” experiment.
Introduction
In the shadowy history of early nuclear science, few stories are as bizarre or sobering as that of physicist Alvin Graves. Survivor of one of the deadliest radiation accidents in U.S. history, Graves faced an unexpected consequence: his own teeth turned radioactive, forcing doctors to shield him with gold teeth caps to save him from further poisoning. This strange medical intervention unfolded after Graves was exposed to a lethal blast of radiation during a reckless experiment called “Tickling the Dragon’s Tail” at Los Alamos in 1946.
1. “Tickling the Dragon’s Tail”: The Experiment That Went Critical
The term “Tickling the Dragon’s Tail” described a series of experiments conducted during the Manhattan Project to determine the critical mass of plutonium. Scientists would manually assemble fissile material, stopping just short of triggering a sustained nuclear chain reaction.
On May 21, 1946, physicist Louis Slotin (a colleague of Graves) was demonstrating the experiment using a plutonium core nicknamed the “Demon Core.” A slip of his screwdriver caused the core to go supercritical, releasing a burst of neutron and gamma radiation. Slotin absorbed a fatal dose and died nine days later. Graves, standing just feet away, was exposed to a massive 700 rads of radiation—enough to kill most people.
Key Fact: The accident delivered Graves a dose comparable to standing 1,500 meters from the Hiroshima atomic blast.
2. Alvin Graves’ Radiation Ordeal
Miraculously, Graves survived the initial accident, but his battle had just begun. He suffered severe radiation sickness: burns, nausea, and temporary sterility. While he eventually recovered enough to return to work (even replacing Slotin as lead scientist), doctors discovered a grisly side effect:
- His Teeth Became Radioactive.
The neutron bombardment during the accident caused elemental changes in his tooth enamel. Trace amounts of calcium in his teeth absorbed neutrons, converting into radioactive phosphorus-32 and strontium-90. These isotopes emitted beta particles, irradiating Graves from inside his mouth whenever he ate or spoke.
Without intervention, this internal radiation would shorten his lifespan and worsen his already fragile health.
3. Why Gold Teeth Caps? The Science of Radiation Shielding
To neutralize the threat, doctors ordered Graves to have his teeth capped—but not with ordinary porcelain. They chose 24-karat gold for two reasons:
- Density Matters: Gold is one of the densest metals (19.3 g/cm³), making it highly effective at blocking ionizing radiation. A 2–3mm gold cap could absorb beta particles before they reached his gums or bloodstream.
- Biocompatibility: Gold is non-reactive in the human body, reducing the risk of infection or rejection post-surgery.
The caps acted like tiny radiation shields, encapsulating each radioactive tooth and stopping emissions at the source. Graves wore these gold caps for the rest of his life, a constant reminder of the accident’s toll.
Did You Know? Gold is still used today in radiation shielding for spacecraft and medical devices due to its reliability.
4. The Legacy of Graves and the Demon Core
Graves lived until 1966—20 years post-accident—but suffered lifelong health issues, including cataracts and chronic pain. His survival, however, reshaped nuclear safety protocols:
- Remote Manipulation: The accident led to strict rules requiring robotic systems for handling fissile materials.
- Tragedy as Warning: The Demon Core experiments were halted, and the core itself was melted down after another fatal accident in 1945 (involving Harry Daghlian).
Ironically, Graves became a staunch advocate for nuclear weapons testing in the 1950s, despite his firsthand brush with disaster.
5. FAQs: Gold Teeth and Radiation
Q: How radioactive were Graves’ teeth?
A: While not weapon-grade, the beta emissions were strong enough to damage surrounding tissue over time.
Q: Does radiation make ALL teeth radioactive?
A: No—only intense neutron exposure (like criticality accidents) transmutes elements in teeth/bones.
Q: Why not just remove the teeth?
A: Extraction would have risked releasing radioactive material into his bloodstream—capping was safer.
Conclusion: A Gilded Survival
Alvin Graves’ gold teeth caps stand as a macabre symbol of ingenuity amid nuclear hubris. They tell a story not just of survival, but of the ethical and physical costs of unlocking atomic power. While golden smiles typically symbolize luxury, Graves’ were an armor—a shield crafted to combat the invisible dragon lurking within his own body.
The tale also serves as a warning: when humanity “tickles the dragon’s tail,” the consequences may linger long after the experiment ends.
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