Editing 809: Los Alamos
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| title = Los Alamos | | title = Los Alamos | ||
| image = los_alamos.png | | image = los_alamos.png | ||
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| titletext = The test didn't (spoiler alert) destroy the world, but the fact that they were even doing those calculations makes theirs the coolest jobs ever. | | titletext = The test didn't (spoiler alert) destroy the world, but the fact that they were even doing those calculations makes theirs the coolest jobs ever. | ||
}} | }} | ||
==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | This comic refers to the {{w|Manhattan Project}} at {{w|Los Alamos, New Mexico}}, where in 1945 their development of the first nuclear weapon had progressed to the point that they were going | + | This comic refers to the {{w|Manhattan Project}} at {{w|Los Alamos, New Mexico}}, where in 1945 their development of the first nuclear weapon had progressed to the point that they were going explode "The Gadget" at {{w|Trinity Site}}. There was genuine concern that some unexpected result was possible, including the scenario about the atmosphere igniting. The scientists were almost certain that it would either work as expected, or just be a dud, but were unable to rule out several other scenarios. The test proceeded, and it worked as expected. |
− | The joke part at the end is a reference to a common {{w| | + | The joke part at the end is a reference to a common {{w|Mnemonic}} device for basic {{w|Trigonometric}} functions, namely identifying the relationships of ''sine'', ''cosine'', and ''tangent'' with respect to the lengths of a right triangle's edges: '''s'''in = '''o'''pposite over '''h'''ypotenuse, '''c'''os = '''a'''djacent over '''h'''ypotenuse, and '''t'''an = '''o'''posite over '''a'''djacent (in other words, SOH CAH TOA.) This mnemonic is so ground into anybody studying trigonometry that any scientist saying what "Steve" says is likely joking... but if serious would be seriously troubling. |
− | + | It could easily be just a coincidence, but the choice of the name "Steve" for the scientist may be a reference to {{w|Project Steve}}. | |
− | + | "Now I am become Death, destroyer of worlds." -- {{w|Robert Oppenheimer}} (Lead scientist on bomb project, quoting Hindu scripture after the successful test) | |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[ | + | :[Three stick figures stand in front of a few graphs and scientific looking pictures. One of them has hair.] |
:Los Alamos, 1945... | :Los Alamos, 1945... | ||
− | : | + | :Middle Figure: We have a decision. If we've done our math right, this test will unleash heaven's fire and make us as gods. |
− | : | + | :Middle figure: But it's possible we made a mistake, and the heat will ignite the atmosphere, destroying the planet in a cleansing conflagration. |
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− | : | + | :Left figure: Wow. Um. Question: Just to double-check - although I'm 99% sure - |
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− | : | + | :Left figure: Is it "SOH CAH TOA" or "COH SAH TOA"? |
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− | + | :Middle figure: Oh, for the love of... can someone redo Steve's work? | |
− | + | :Right figure: I don't want to do the test anymore. | |
− | + | {{comic discussion}} | |
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