The Unbelievable Story of Anatoly Burgoski's Encounter with a Proton Beam

TLDROn June 3rd, 1978, Anatoly Burgoski, a physicist, accidentally crossed paths with a high-energy proton beam at the U-70 synchrotron in Protvino, Russia. Despite the immense energy of the beam, Anatoly survived but experienced severe symptoms. This incident shed light on the stopping power of particle beams and the potential of particle therapy in cancer treatment.

Key insights

😱Anatoly Burgoski accidentally crossed paths with a high-energy proton beam, resulting in life-changing consequences.

🏥Despite the immense energy of the beam, Anatoly survived the encounter.

🤯The incident highlighted the concept of stopping power, which determines how far particles will travel in a material before losing all their energy.

💡Particle therapy uses the stopping power of high-energy particles to destroy tumors non-invasively.

🌌Anatoly's encounter with the proton beam revealed the potential risks and dangers associated with particle accelerators.

Q&A

What is Anatoly Burgoski's story?

Anatoly Burgoski, a physicist, accidentally crossed paths with a high-energy proton beam, resulting in severe symptoms and life-changing consequences.

Did Anatoly survive the encounter with the proton beam?

Yes, Anatoly survived the encounter with the proton beam, defying expectations and medical predictions.

What is stopping power?

Stopping power refers to the ability of a material to slow down and eventually stop high-energy particles as they interact with the material.

How is stopping power used in particle therapy?

In particle therapy, high-energy particles are directed at a specific volume of a material, such as a tumor, utilizing the stopping power to destroy the targeted area while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.

What did Anatoly's encounter reveal about particle accelerators?

Anatoly's encounter highlighted the potential risks and dangers associated with particle accelerators, prompting further research and safety measures.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Anatoly Burgoski's encounter with a proton beam occurred on June 3rd, 1978, at the U-70 synchrotron in Protvino, Russia.

04:59Anatoly calmly finished his work in the chamber where the beam had penetrated his head, unaware of the severity of the situation.

09:41Anatoly's brain did not have the stopping power to bring the high-energy proton beam to a stop, resulting in minimal absorption of radiation.

10:57Anatoly experienced severe symptoms and was brought to the sixth hospital in Moscow, known for treating radiation injuries.

11:10The path of the proton beam through Anatoly's face was revealed by peeling skin and lost hair.