What popularized the idea of "green" radioactive materials in media?
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I recently learned about Cherenkov Radiation which produces an eerie blue glow, such as when viewing a nuclear reactor submerged in water. This effect was known about as early as the 1930's. However, nearly every representation of radioactivity and radioactive materials I've seen in popular media is associated with a bright green glow. Aside from radium being used in radioluminescent paint and uranium being used as a glass colorant, I have found few if any examples of this "green glow" in real life.
The rumor is that reporters seeing the first nuclear reactors at criticality did so through lead-doped glass; when you dope glass with lead, it gives it a green tint - so the reporters, not having this explained to them, thought that radiation was green.
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