The puzzle of Chernobyl: Taken by surprise, technologists pose scenarios, map the radiation plume, and call for better emergency notification

A review of the explosion at the Soviet Chernobyl nuclear reactor is presented. A chronology of the accident is pieced together. Two hypotheses for the accident are proposed and discussed. The scenarios note that the accident occurred in an inherently hazardous type of reactor, little used in any country but the Soviet Union. The author maps the released radiation plume and evaluated the health risks. It is noted that so far there is little precise knowledge of the long-range health damage from radioactive iodine, cesium, and other products released by the Chernobyl meltdown. Improvements in international emergency notification procedures are called for.