The story of the cubes is a lesson in scientific failure, albeit [one] worth celebrating
When University of Maryland physicist Timothy Koeth received a mysterious heavy metal cube from a friend as a birthday gift several years ago, he instantly recognized it as one of the uranium cubes used by German scientists during World War II in their unsuccessful attempt to build a working nuclear reactor. Had there been any doubt, there was an accompanying note on a piece of paper wrapped around the cube: "Taken from Germany, from the nuclear reactor Hitler tried to build. Gift of Ninninger."
Link
Link
(The cubes are only slightly radioactive and don't pose a health concern, according to Koeth. Since uranium is so dense, "It winds up shielding itself," he said. "The radiation you measure from it is only coming from the surface.")
Alsos team dismantling "uranium machine" in cave at Haigerloch in April 1945. Uranium cubes are in the center, surrounded by graphite.
Alsos team dismantling "uranium machine" in cave at Haigerloch in April 1945. Uranium cubes are in the center, surrounded by graphite.
A replica of the failed B-VIII reactor on display at the Atomkeller Museum in Haigerloch, Germany.
