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Scientists have discovered a unique metal alloy in the atomic explosion zone in Hiroshima

Science Advances: previously unknown material found in the sands of Hiroshima
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Photo: IZVESTIA/Sergey Lantyukhov
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Almost 81 years after the atomic bombing of the Japanese city, scientists have discovered previously unknown material in Hiroshima Bay. The results of the study were reported on July 29 by the journal Science Advances.

Experts have analyzed fragments of molten debris, which are called "Hiroshima." These are tiny spherical particles formed on August 6, 1945, when the temperature in the epicenter of the explosion exceeded 7 thousand degrees in a few seconds. The high energy vaporized building materials, soil, water, and metals, which then quickly cooled in the atmosphere and settled as microscopic droplets.

"We announce the discovery of a previously unknown alloy preserved in a spherical particle of Hiroshima extracted from the beach sands of Hiroshima Bay," the publication says.

Scientists have established that the found class of materials is formed at extremely high temperatures. Drops of iron and chromium-based alloys with admixtures of nickel, manganese and molybdenum were found inside the glass spheres. This composition is a "snapshot" of the local metals that were in the city at the time of the disaster.

The special attention of the authors of the work was attracted by one grain of hirosimite with an abnormally high silicon content. The study showed that it consists of 63% iron, 15% chromium, 9% nickel and 7% silicon. According to experts, such a homogeneous structure crystallized from a single molten drop during extremely rapid cooling, which is impossible under normal conditions.

According to experts, the discovery allows us to understand how matter behaves at the highest temperatures and pressures on Earth. Scientists believe that studying such processes will help create new classes of synthetic materials.

On February 26, The Washington Post reported on the sale of the diary of the pilot of the B-29 Enola Gay bomber Robert Lewis. A personal item was put up for auction at the auction house Whitmore Rare Books for almost $ 950 thousand. It was clarified that in the recordings made during the flight, Lewis described his thoughts and feelings before dropping the bomb.

Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»

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