Uranium cubes show Nazi Germany's reactor fell short

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSurviving uranium cubes and wartime documents show Nazi Germany never had enough uranium or heavy water to make its reactor work, ScienceDaily reports.

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   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThe reactor, called B8, held six hundred sixty-four uranium cubes hung on chains in heavy water, in a rock cellar in Haigerloch.

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   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorResearchers estimate a working version needed about three point one tons of uranium, and B8 had roughly one and a half.

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   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThat's a strong foundation to build on.

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   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentHalf the uranium, on chains. It's the world's worst hanging mobile.

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   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThe reactor's multiplication factor was calculated at zero point nine four. A chain reaction needs one.

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   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo ninety-four percent of the way there?

8. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSomewhere a spokesman is saying zero point nine four is a chain reaction in beta.

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   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThe catch is that the study only examined two cubes, and one of them was found in a filing cabinet in two thousand eleven.

10. 

    Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSo the filing cabinet outperformed the reactor.