During a session on cold physics today we were shown a clip from an upcoming BBC documentary (created in part by Tom Shachtman--dad to WIRED contributing editor Noah Shachtman) that follows the race to find absolute zero (the lowest possible temperature). As with many other attempts at doing science throughout history, there were some cringe-worthy moments. Specifically, when 17th century scientists created high-pressure environments in super-cold gas-filled glass tubes. The idea was that as temperature dropped, and pressure increased, gases inside the tubes like helium or hydrogen would liquefy.
You can imagine what happened: explosions! And not the fun kind. Apparently, many of the workers in these laboratories suffered great injury--like losing their eyes. All this bloodshed in the name of science got me thinking. Throughout history scientists have faced great danger. Even the guys trying to figure out how to fly broke some arms and necks jumping from high places.
But that seems like a story left to the history books. I am hard pressed to think of a moment in recent history when a scientist has suffered grisly physical harm as a result of their research (with at least one caveat--the astronaut, who puts their life in danger from the second they buckle their seatbelts and Houston counts "one"). But why is that? It is certainly not due to the fact that the science itself has become less dangerous.
Is it that technology like clean rooms and blast chambers have advanced enough to keep our scientists relatively safe? After all, even high school chemistry classes have eye-wash stations.
I don't believe the answer can be that scientists are no longer willing to face great danger. But perhaps it's the insurance companies that are fueling this lab-safety movement. What is the going rate for health insurance on a research scientist anyway?
So, here's my question: what are the most dangerous fields of scientific research right now? And by dangerous I mean: having the potential to inflict great bodily harm on those who are doing the science. I just can't believe the astronauts have a modern-day monopoly on sacrificing their lives in the name of science. How many can you list?
