Demon Core Trend 2026

A small, subcritical sphere of plutonium, the demon core gained infamy after causing two fatal criticality accidents in 1945-46. Used in early atomic bomb research as a neutron reflector test assembly, it claimed the lives of scientists Harry Daghlian and Louis Slotin. Today, it serves as a stark reminder of radiation hazards, benefiting safety historians and nuclear regulators studying accident prevention.