Blog Post 4 - Unit 4 Individual Project - CS875: Futuring and Innovation - Colorado Technical University (CTU)

 

Accidental Game-Changing Discoveries

Tyler Scafidi

Colorado Technical University

February 2, 2025

Accidental Game-Changing Discoveries

               Research can produce new data, confirm existing data, and/or result in new and accidental discoveries that have both positive and negative consequential societal impacts. Some of the more notable accidental discoveries have been: microwaves, Quinine (anti-malaria topical), Radiography/X-rays, radioactive activity, Velcro (for temporary adhesive strips/tape), artificial sweeteners, Lysergic acid (LSD; hallucinogen), Penicillin (antibiotic), Viagra (erectile dysfunction medication), etc. (Loria, 2019). All of these previous discoveries have had a notable impact on the normal way of life, and have made significant advancements available. However, there have also been accidental discoveries that can and have had a devastating impact to humanity, such as: nuclear fission and sarin (deadly toxic chemical gas) (Pruitt, 2019).

Nuclear Fission

               In December 1938, Lise Meitner and Otto Frisch, two radiochemists, were performing neutron bombardment experiments in Berlin, Germany when they discovered that uranium nuclei split evenly, while their mass also changed (Chodos, 2007). One of the most significant implications this had on molecular physics is that kinetic energy was the output of the splitting process, which could be converted into heat. The process became known as fission, from the biological binary fission. Another caution was that a controlled reaction process could produce large amounts of energy for heat and power, but an uncontrolled reaction could have a large explosion.

               The atom bomb is one weapon and devastating use of nuclear fission (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2023). A bomb known as “Little Boy” was one of the first nuclear weapons ever used in war. The bomb used nuclear fission explosive processes to target another “plug” of the same material, which resulted in an explosion with the right critical mass (i.e. amount of material needed to maintain fission reactions). However, modern nuclear weapons use a combination of fission and fusion (i.e. thermonuclear) to reduce the critical mass needed to cause explosive reactions.

Supporting Forces

               In the beginning, scientists were working to explain a finding that otto Hahn made about uranium splitting into two (Chodos, 2007). Physicists Lise Meitner and Otto Frisch were conducing neutron bombardment experiments when they discovered that the resulting mass of split uranium was less than the original. This had major implications as the reduction in mass was proposed to produce kinetic energy, which could be converted into heat (U.S. Department of Energy, n.d.). It was also noted that controlled, self-sustaining fission reactions could lead an enormous amount of heat and power energy. However, an uncontrolled reaction would have greatly explosive reactions.

               One of the best applications I have seen nuclear fission used for is in heat and power generation (U.S. Energy Information Administration (eia), 2023). The United States had the largest nuclear generation capacity and generation in 2021, while accounting for approximately 19% of the country’s total electricity generated. France, on the other hand, is the second-highest producer, with nearly 68% of total electricity generated from nuclear fission. Several countries generate electricity through nuclear fission, but the top three producers in 2023 were: The United States of America (USA), China, and France (World Nuclear Association, 2025).

Devastation

               In 2011, a tsunami resulting from a strong earthquake caused critical damage to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS), n.d.). The failure caused issues with reactors’ ability to cool, even after shutting down. That led to reactor core materials melting, and then were released into the environment. The result was significant environmental radiation, which was labeled as a level seven “major accident”. Iodine-131, tellurium-132, and caesium-134/137 were the biggest radioactive contributors. While iodine and tellurium had half lives that allowed them to clear up within about three months, the caesium-137 has a half-life of 30 years. Water supplies were also contaminated. The melted reactor cores were covered, and Japan has had to restrict the sale and consumption of food and drinking sources.

Sarin Gas

Sarin gas is considered to be one of the deadliest nerve agents in the world (Malikyte, 2021). Developed to combat the weevil beetle in Germany, which was destroying the country’s fields and crops. Sarin gas was a result of the German government trying to find new pesticide sources to save money. In 1938, the Nazi German government hired Gerhard Schrader to develop a less expensive pesticide (Pruitt, 2019). At first, Schrader combined phosphorus with cyanide to produce a liquid named “tabun”, which translates to “taboo” in German.

Then, Gerhard Schrader messed with the chemical, and came up with a more toxic chemical: sarin (Pruitt, 2019). However, the resulting sarin gas that was created was even avoided by Adolf Hitler (Nazi Germany party leader). While Hitler was known to use chemicals (i.e. Zyklon B, etc.) in concentration camps to accomplish genocide, it is noted that he did not use sarin gas in his wars. One thought about Hitler not using sarin gas was that it would contaminate the area soldiers would have to enter and other initiatives were considered successful.

Supporting Forces

               The major supporting forces for the accidental creation of sarin gas would have been the need to control the weevil bug pest that was wreaking havoc on the German orchards and fields (Pruitt, 2019). Looking at some of the issues caused by sarin gas, it does not seem that there is any really good use for sarin gas (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), n.d.). Although, sarin gas may be one component of an overarching biochemical warfare toolkit. While biochemical warfare is highly inhumane and long-lasting, it may serve as an offensive deterrent.

Devastation

               Even though sarin gas was not used during Nazi Germany, when it was created, it has been used against people since. It is reported that nearly 150 Syrians died from Syria’s use of sarin gas on its own population (Patterson, 2017). Another 90 people died in a Syrian attack, 13 people in Tokyo, and several other instances. While sarin gas can penetrate through skin, eye, or inhalation contact points and is short-lived, it is reported that anyone severely exposed is not likely to survive.

Conclusion

               Overall, innovation is led through experimentation. Researchers are typically interested in pushing the limits, or are pushed to do so. Making new discoveries is one of the sole purposes of research, but some of the resulting inventions are detrimental. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted from highly-sensitive research. Sarin gas was created through pesticide research. Nuclear fission was observed during another experiment.

               The COVID-19 pandemic proved to be highly contagious, and was hard to mitigate. Sarin gas has been used to commit crimes and kill others. Critical nuclear fission incidents have long-term impacts on people and environments. However, we were able to largely combat COVID-19, we have restricted uses for sarin gas, and nuclear fission facilities are heavily regulated. The most significant invention has to be nuclear fission. Not only has it led to more powerful heat and electrical generation, but it also revolutionized warfare.

 

References

Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS). (n.d.). The Fukushima accident. Retrieved February 2, 2025, from bfs.de: https://www.bfs.de/EN/topics/ion/accident-management/emergency/fukushima/accident.html;jsessionid=5014E24712EA3020630ACEFE3C177F16.internet591

Chodos, A. (2007, December 3). December 1938: Discovery of nuclear fission. Retrieved from aps.org: https://www.aps.org/apsnews/2007/12/december-1938-discovery-nuclear-fission

Colorado Technical University (CTU). (n.d.). Doctor of Computer Science. Retrieved January 19, 2025, from coloradotech.edu: https://www.coloradotech.edu/degrees/doctorates/computer-science

Loria, K. (2019, April 04). These 18 accidental and unintended scientific discoveries changed the world : ScienceAlert. Retrieved from sciencealert.com: https://www.sciencealert.com/these-eighteen-accidental-scientific-discoveries-changed-the-world

Malikyte, E. E. (2021, January 4). 10 weapons that were created by accident. Retrieved from toptenz.net: https://www.toptenz.net/10-weapons-that-were-created-by-accident.php

Patterson, T. T. (2017, August 3). Sarin: Invisible and Deadly. Retrieved from cnn.com: https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/02/us/sarin-gas-timeline/index.html

Pruitt, S. S. (2019, April 1). The Nazis developed sarin gas during WWII, but Hitler was afraid to use it. Retrieved from history.com: https://www.history.com/news/the-nazis-developed-sarin-gas-but-hitler-was-afraid-to-use-it

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (n.d.). Sarin. Retrieved February 2, 2025, from cdc.gov: https://www.cdc.gov/chemical-emergencies/chemical-fact-sheets/sarin.html

U.S. Department of Energy. (n.d.). Manhattan Project: The Discovery of Fission, 1938-1939. Retrieved February 2, 2025, from osti.gov: https://www.osti.gov/opennet/manhattan-project-history/Events/1890s-1939/discovery_fission.htm

U.S. Energy Information Administration (eia). (2023, August 21). Nuclear power plants - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Retrieved from eia.gov: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/nuclear/nuclear-power-plants.php

Union of Concerned Scientists. (2023, August 23). How nuclear weapons work. Retrieved from ucsusa.org: https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/how-nuclear-weapons-work#:~:text=Modern%20nuclear%20weapons%20work%20by,pressure%20needed%20to%20ignite%20fusion.

World Nuclear Association. (2025, January 6). Nuclear power in the world today - World Nuclear Association. Retrieved from world-nuclear.org: https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/nuclear-power-in-the-world-today