World’s most dangerous toy goes on sale for £3k in time for Christmas allowing kids to do RADIOACTIVE tests in bedrooms
The most hazardous toy in the world, which contains actual radioactive materials, is being sold for $3,000.
The 1950 atomic energy kit lets children do radioactive experiments in their homes and comes with real uranium.
The US government requested the creation of the toy to encourage young people’s interest in atomic energy, but after only a year, production was stopped because of government regulations and safety concerns.
As part of a Fine Autographs and Artifacts event, a rare full example of the radioactive kits—of which only about 5,000 were ever sold—is now being offered for sale at an auction in Boston.
In 2006, Radar Magazine named the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory one of the top ten most dangerous toys ever made.
The kits were first offered for 39, which is more than 500 in today’s currency.
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American inventor Alfred Carlton Gilbert, who also produced the well-known erection constructor toys, initially promoted the toy as an instructive science experiment.
Four different types of minerals—autunite, carnotite, tobernite, and uraninite—that all contain the radioactive element uranium are included in the set.
As uranium decays, radiation is released that can harm human DNA and tissue and raise the risk of cancer.
Included are a Geiger-Mueller counter for measuring radioactivity and a screen-based radiation visualization gadget.
The children can see the pathways of the particles as they speed by at 12,000 miles per second thanks to a cloud chamber that produces visible tracks.
A comic book featuring a scientist named Dagwood Splits the Atom and the original Gilbert Atomic Energy Annual will also be awarded to the winning bidder.
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In 1951, the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory was shut down because of low sales and safety issues.
It has been a coveted collector’s item in recent decades due to the limited quantity of kits created.
Additionally, this kit sample includes a bit of history from the manufacturer.
It has a letter from the Gilbert Company dated September 25, 1953, which states: We regret to inform you that we are no longer producing this laboratory.
Some of the materials were extremely difficult to obtain, in part because of government restrictions.
A 2020 review in the magazine IEEE Spectrum stated that, provided the samples stayed in their containers, the radiation danger from the toy was comparable to that of a day in the sun, notwithstanding the safety concerns that halted production.
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The radioactive output might be far larger if the materials were taken out of their protective shells.
The current price is $3,045 and the auction will continue until December 12.
What are the effects of radiation exposure?
Harrington, Patrick
The energy or particles released by radioactive materials are known as radiation.
We are all exposed to a certain amount of radioactivity every day since many naturally occurring elements are radioactive.
Numerous long-term health problems might result from high radiation exposure.
Although the effects vary depending on the dose, high exposure levels have the potential to harm live tissues and organs.
“Radiation sickness” can result from exposure to large doses in brief periods of time, which is the most dangerous type.
This affects how the organs work and can cause radiation burns, skin redness, nausea, vomiting, and hair loss.
Extremely uncommon, these symptoms are more likely to appear following a nuclear disaster or other traumatic incident.
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