“I’m just going up a ladder, what’s the worst that can happen ? 🙄”

Unfortunately the reality is worse. Human vaporization isn't really a thing. You can get blown apart by the shockwave, but even with the gamma radiation causing thermal waves of 10,000 F it still won't instantly incinerate a human. They just get flash cooked.

The shadows are caused by the person absorbing the intense light and thermal radiation emitted by the blast, which peels material off the building surface.

If they were close enough to the blast to be instantly killed by force or heat, it would most likely have been a strong enough force to also knock down the wooden building the shadow was etched into, or set it alight so it burned down.

It's unlikely many people caught like this lived long, but sadly it's not a given that they all died instantly or painlessly.

https://www.livescience.com/nuclear-bomb-wwii-shadows.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Shadow_Etched_in_Stone

Ready or Not?

Ray Bradbury is one of my favourite authors. One of the very first books I ever bought for myself was his series of short stories, The Martian Chronicles. We read so, so many of his various works, including Fahrenheit 451, while I was in middle school and high school, and it’s so wonderful to know that his works are still being taught (I know in some circles, he’s considered dated and I do understand). Still, it’s awesome to know that you appreciated his works, too! I highly recommend All Summer in a Day. It absolutely shattered my little heart when I read it back in sixth grade, but I still absolutely love how beautifully Bradbury was able to compose so much empathy and sorrow into just a few short pages.

Fuck you, dolphin! Fuck you, whale!

Guess you'll die.

(In WWII era nobody knew what it was so they would die. In modern age so many things will be contaminated by radioactive rain that you'll likely consume it anyway, unless you were far away from the blast zone there's barely any chance of survival)

Sure beats slow radiation death.

And if radioactive rain does hit you, what's the solution?

That or incoming radioactive rain that kills you slowly

That's so stupid. Only the people right next to the blast don't feel anything, everybody else is fucked.

My first thought also.

“And we all get burned as one more Sun comes sliding down the sky,

One more shadow leans against the wall

And the world begins to disappear…”

And spontaneous nuclear vaporization is the best way for that person to not deal with the sadness.

I came across that short story in high school, when I was in an IRobot phase. The old fashioned ideas of modern convenience and automation were so fascinating. For some reason that one in particular was my favorite. Now, looking back, I recognize the author's name as Fahrenheit 451. Wish I'd known back then because I probably could have written some much more interesting essays for my english course.

I remember a trip to Hiroshima in the late 80s and seeing the wrought iron railings melted like plastic under a blow torch, and shadows etched in concrete

Apparently some group of people thinks use of nuclear bomb is ethical (victim feels no pain). Scary to think that they might even vote for a nuclear war

Yes imagine youre living elsewhere. Next day you hear your whole hometown where you grew up and your whole family died

[removed]

Shadows usually are.

Probably sounds mean, but honestly: the best way to go.

No chance of pain or fear = excellent.

There Will Come Soft Rains, Ray Bradbury

This was my first introduction to these shadows, and it was frightening to learn of as a child. I hope never to see atomic bombs dropped on any country ever again. Horrifying.

Thank you friend

If they were close enough to the detonation, they wouldn’t have even heard the blast. Their bodies would have basically evaporated in an instant.

i love this so freakin much!

That's dark