Today is the 25th anniversary of the meltdown at the Chernobyl nuclear plant. Here's part one of a spooky-as-hell film showing scientists venturing inside the plant's cement sarcophagus, which keeps its nuclear material contained (for now). A few other things to look at today:
- What's the ecology of Chernobyl today? Some wildlife has returned, but there are fewer animals and less biodiversity than elsewhere, and they're still being affected by the fallout: In high-radiation "hot spots," birds have five percent smaller brains, says Agence France-Presse.
- Especially orange birds. Really.
- As for the human impact, there are five families still living in nearby Redkovka. Family ties and commitment to their roots kept them there when everyone else abandoned the area. The New York Times has images of this very, very lonely village.
- Ukraine is trying like hell to reinvent Chernobyl as a tourist attraction, says the Atlantic — and it's actually sort of working.
- The Big Picture has collected stunning photographs from the accident and its aftermath.
- There have been anti-nuclear demonstrations worldwide today — Boing Boing has a list.
