www.ctpublic.org Open in urlscan Pro
3.160.212.22  Public Scan

URL: https://www.ctpublic.org/2023-07-23/what-oppenheimer-left-out-the-atomic-bombs-fallout-in-new-mexico
Submission: On July 25 via api from FI — Scanned from FI

Form analysis 3 forms found in the DOM

https://www.ctpublic.org/search#nt=navsearch

<form class="PH-search-form" action="https://www.ctpublic.org/search#nt=navsearch" novalidate="" autocomplete="off">
  <label><input placeholder="Search" type="text" class="PH-search-input-mobile" name="q" required="true"><span class="sr-only">Search Query</span></label>
  <button class="PH-search-button-mobile" aria-label="header-search-icon"><svg class="icon-magnify">
      <use xlink:href="#icon-magnify"></use>
    </svg><span class="sr-only">Show Search</span></button>
</form>

https://www.ctpublic.org/search#nt=navsearch

<form class="PH-search-form" action="https://www.ctpublic.org/search#nt=navsearch" novalidate="" autocomplete="off">
  <label><input placeholder="Search" type="text" class="PH-search-input" name="q" required="true"><span class="sr-only">Search Query</span></label>
  <button type="button" class="PH-search-close" aria-label="header-search-close-icon"><svg class="close-x">
      <use xlink:href="#close-x"></use>
    </svg></button>
</form>

POST https://connecticut-public.msgfocus.com/k/Connecticut-Public/sign_up_grove_your_start_only

<form action="https://connecticut-public.msgfocus.com/k/Connecticut-Public/sign_up_grove_your_start_only" method="post" accept-charset="UTF-8" id="form-adestra-yourstart">
  <div class="amf-el amf-type-textbox" id="amf-el-first_name_147">
    <label for="amf-input-first_name_147">First name</label>
    <div class="amf-el-inner"><input type="text" class="text" name="first_name_147" id="amf-input-first_name_147" value="" maxlength="255" placeholder="Jane" onkeyup="if (this.length>255) this.value=this.value.substr(0, 255)"
        onblur="this.value=this.value.substr(0, 255)"></div>
  </div>
  <div class="amf-el amf-type-textbox" id="amf-el-last_name_148">
    <label for="amf-input-last_name_148">Last name</label>
    <div class="amf-el-inner"><input type="text" class="text" name="last_name_148" id="amf-input-last_name_148" value="" maxlength="255" placeholder="Doe" onkeyup="if (this.length>255) this.value=this.value.substr(0, 255)"
        onblur="this.value=this.value.substr(0, 255)"></div>
  </div>
  <div class="amf-el amf-type-email" id="amf-el-email_address_149">
    <label for="amf-input-email_address_149">Email address</label>
    <div class="amf-el-inner"><input type="text" class="text" name="email_address_149" id="amf-input-email_address_149" value="" maxlength="255" placeholder="you@gmail.com" onkeyup="if (this.length>255) this.value=this.value.substr(0, 255)"
        onblur="this.value=this.value.substr(0, 255)"></div>
  </div>
  <div class="amf-el amf-type-checkbox" id="amf-el-your_start_newsletter_150">
    <div class="amf-el-inner" style="display: none"><input type="checkbox" class="checkbox" name="your_start_newsletter_150" id="amf-input-your_start_newsletter_150" value="1" checked="checked"><label for="amf-input-your_start_newsletter_150">Your
        Start Newsletter</label></div>
  </div>
  <div class="amf-el amf-type-captcha" id="amf-el-verification_151">
    <label for="amf-input-verification_151">Verification</label>
    <div class="amf-el-inner">
      <script>
        var RecaptchaOptions = {
          theme: "white"
        };
      </script>
      <div class="captcha" name="verification_151" id="amf-captcha-verification_151">
        <script src="https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js" async="" defer=""></script>
        <div class="g-recaptcha" data-sitekey="6LdvdCUUAAAAAKp_zIqdD5bsG_i6IqdRFBjxKjVW">
          <div style="width: 304px; height: 78px;">
            <div><iframe title="reCAPTCHA"
                src="https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api2/anchor?ar=1&amp;k=6LdvdCUUAAAAAKp_zIqdD5bsG_i6IqdRFBjxKjVW&amp;co=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY3RwdWJsaWMub3JnOjQ0Mw..&amp;hl=fi&amp;v=iRvKkcsnpNcOYYwhqaQxPITz&amp;size=normal&amp;cb=dvr6uf4mvuyq"
                width="304" height="78" role="presentation" name="a-q11ychcngi4s" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"
                sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation allow-modals allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox"></iframe></div><textarea id="g-recaptcha-response" name="g-recaptcha-response"
              class="g-recaptcha-response" style="width: 250px; height: 40px; border: 1px solid rgb(193, 193, 193); margin: 10px 25px; padding: 0px; resize: none; display: none;"></textarea>
          </div><iframe style="display: none;"></iframe>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div id="amf-el-city_985" class="amf-el">
    <label for="city_985">City</label>
    <input id="amf-input-city_985" class="text" name="city_985" type="text" value="">
  </div>
  <div id="amf-el-terms_agree_982" class="amf-el">
    <label for="terms_agree">Agree to Terms and Conditions</label>
    <input id="amf-input-terms-agree" name="terms_agree" type="checkbox">
  </div>
  <div class="amf-el amf-type-button" id="amf-el-submit"><input type="submit" class="ctp-button" name="submit" id="submit" value="Sign up"></div>
  <script type="text/javascript" id="0.0725668810782238">
    (function() {
      var script = document.getElementById("0.0725668810782238");
      var form = document.getElementById("form-adestra-yourstart");
      var inputs = form.getElementsByTagName("input");
      var submit_count = 0;
      var enable_double_submit = false;
      for (var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++) {
        var my_input = inputs[i];
        if (my_input.type === "submit") {
          var container = my_input.parentNode;
          if (container.className.match(/enable-double-submit/)) {
            enable_double_submit = true;
          }
        }
      }
      form.addEventListener("submit", function(evt) {
        if (document.getElementById("amf-el-terms_agree_982").querySelector("input").checked || document.getElementById("amf-input-city_985").value != "") {
          evt.preventDefault();
          window.location.replace("https://www.ctpublic.org/");
        }
        if (submit_count >= 1 && !enable_double_submit) {
          evt.preventDefault();
        }
        submit_count++;
      });
    })();
  </script>
</form>

Text Content

Expand

Search Query Show Search
 * Listen
   
    * All Shows & Podcasts
    * Audacious
    * Colin McEnroe Show
    * Connecticut Garden Journal
    * Disrupted
    * Local Shows & Podcasts
    * NPR Programming
    * Radio Livestream
    * Schedule
    * Seasoned
    * StoryCorps CT
    * The Wheelhouse
    * Where We Live
   
    * All Shows & Podcasts
    * Audacious
    * Colin McEnroe Show
    * Connecticut Garden Journal
    * Disrupted
    * Local Shows & Podcasts
    * NPR Programming
    * Radio Livestream
    * Schedule
    * Seasoned
    * StoryCorps CT
    * The Wheelhouse
    * Where We Live

 * Watch
   
    * CPTV Livestream
    * Cutline
    * KIDS 24/7
    * Local Programming
    * Mini Docs
    * Passport
    * PBS Programming
    * RE:SOURCE:FUL
    * Restaurant Road Trip
    * Schedule
    * Special Coverage
    * Where Art Thou?
   
    * CPTV Livestream
    * Cutline
    * KIDS 24/7
    * Local Programming
    * Mini Docs
    * Passport
    * PBS Programming
    * RE:SOURCE:FUL
    * Restaurant Road Trip
    * Schedule
    * Special Coverage
    * Where Art Thou?

 * News
   
    * All News
    * Arts & Culture
    * Business
    * Education
    * 2022 Election
    * Environment
    * Health
    * Investigative
    * National
    * New England News Collaborative
    * Noticias
    * Outdoors
    * Politics
    * Sports
    * State
    * World
   
    * All News
    * Arts & Culture
    * Business
    * Education
    * 2022 Election
    * Environment
    * Health
    * Investigative
    * National
    * New England News Collaborative
    * Noticias
    * Outdoors
    * Politics
    * Sports
    * State
    * World

 * Latino
   
    * Calendario Comunitario
    * Factchequeado
    * Niños
    * Noticias
   
    * Calendario Comunitario
    * Factchequeado
    * Niños
    * Noticias

 * Food
 * Kids
   
    * Watch
    * Play
    * Learn
    * Niños
   
    * Watch
    * Play
    * Learn
    * Niños

 * Sponsored
   
    * Able Lives
    * Brain Injury Survivor Stories
    * Elevating Health
    * Nature Talks
    * Real Life, Real Hope Moments
    * UConn Health Minutes
    * Yale Cancer Answers
   
    * Able Lives
    * Brain Injury Survivor Stories
    * Elevating Health
    * Nature Talks
    * Real Life, Real Hope Moments
    * UConn Health Minutes
    * Yale Cancer Answers

 * Community
   
    * Contests
    * Events
    * Fairfield County
    * Resources for Families
    * Word and Puzzle Games
   
    * Contests
    * Events
    * Fairfield County
    * Resources for Families
    * Word and Puzzle Games

 * Support
   
    * Donate
    * Leadership Giving
    * Contribute A Car
    * Corporate Support: Advertising & Sponsorship
    * Community Champions
    * How To Support
   
    * Donate
    * Leadership Giving
    * Contribute A Car
    * Corporate Support: Advertising & Sponsorship
    * Community Champions
    * How To Support

 * About
   
    * About Us
    * Careers
    * Company News
    * Contact Us
    * How To: Listen, Watch & Learn
    * Newsletter Sign-up
   
    * About Us
    * Careers
    * Company News
    * Contact Us
    * How To: Listen, Watch & Learn
    * Newsletter Sign-up

© 2023 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Menu

Show Search
Search Query
Donate
Connecticut Public Radio / WNPR
Here & Now
Connecticut Public Radio / WNPR
Here & Now
Next Up: 3:00 PM Here & Now

0:00

0:00

Here & Now
Connecticut Public Radio / WNPR

0:00 0:00

Available On Air Stations
 * On Air Now Playing WNPR


Stream
 * Listen
   
    * All Shows & Podcasts
    * Audacious
    * Colin McEnroe Show
    * Connecticut Garden Journal
    * Disrupted
    * Local Shows & Podcasts
    * NPR Programming
    * Radio Livestream
    * Schedule
    * Seasoned
    * StoryCorps CT
    * The Wheelhouse
    * Where We Live
   
    * All Shows & Podcasts
    * Audacious
    * Colin McEnroe Show
    * Connecticut Garden Journal
    * Disrupted
    * Local Shows & Podcasts
    * NPR Programming
    * Radio Livestream
    * Schedule
    * Seasoned
    * StoryCorps CT
    * The Wheelhouse
    * Where We Live

 * Watch
   
    * CPTV Livestream
    * Cutline
    * KIDS 24/7
    * Local Programming
    * Mini Docs
    * Passport
    * PBS Programming
    * RE:SOURCE:FUL
    * Restaurant Road Trip
    * Schedule
    * Special Coverage
    * Where Art Thou?
   
    * CPTV Livestream
    * Cutline
    * KIDS 24/7
    * Local Programming
    * Mini Docs
    * Passport
    * PBS Programming
    * RE:SOURCE:FUL
    * Restaurant Road Trip
    * Schedule
    * Special Coverage
    * Where Art Thou?

 * News
   
    * All News
    * Arts & Culture
    * Business
    * Education
    * 2022 Election
    * Environment
    * Health
    * Investigative
    * National
    * New England News Collaborative
    * Noticias
    * Outdoors
    * Politics
    * Sports
    * State
    * World
   
    * All News
    * Arts & Culture
    * Business
    * Education
    * 2022 Election
    * Environment
    * Health
    * Investigative
    * National
    * New England News Collaborative
    * Noticias
    * Outdoors
    * Politics
    * Sports
    * State
    * World

 * Latino
   
    * Calendario Comunitario
    * Factchequeado
    * Niños
    * Noticias
   
    * Calendario Comunitario
    * Factchequeado
    * Niños
    * Noticias

 * Food
 * Kids
   
    * Watch
    * Play
    * Learn
    * Niños
   
    * Watch
    * Play
    * Learn
    * Niños

 * Sponsored
   
    * Able Lives
    * Brain Injury Survivor Stories
    * Elevating Health
    * Nature Talks
    * Real Life, Real Hope Moments
    * UConn Health Minutes
    * Yale Cancer Answers
   
    * Able Lives
    * Brain Injury Survivor Stories
    * Elevating Health
    * Nature Talks
    * Real Life, Real Hope Moments
    * UConn Health Minutes
    * Yale Cancer Answers

 * Community
   
    * Contests
    * Events
    * Fairfield County
    * Resources for Families
    * Word and Puzzle Games
   
    * Contests
    * Events
    * Fairfield County
    * Resources for Families
    * Word and Puzzle Games

 * Support
   
    * Donate
    * Leadership Giving
    * Contribute A Car
    * Corporate Support: Advertising & Sponsorship
    * Community Champions
    * How To Support
   
    * Donate
    * Leadership Giving
    * Contribute A Car
    * Corporate Support: Advertising & Sponsorship
    * Community Champions
    * How To Support

 * About
   
    * About Us
    * Careers
    * Company News
    * Contact Us
    * How To: Listen, Watch & Learn
    * Newsletter Sign-up
   
    * About Us
    * Careers
    * Company News
    * Contact Us
    * How To: Listen, Watch & Learn
    * Newsletter Sign-up


WHAT 'OPPENHEIMER' LEFT OUT: THE ATOMIC BOMB'S FALLOUT IN NEW MEXICO

By Nate Hegyi
Published July 23, 2023 at 8:03 AM EDT
 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * LinkedIn
 * Email

Listen • 3:52

AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:

The physicist behind the creation of the atomic bomb is getting a lot of
attention because of that big new Hollywood biopic, "Oppenheimer."

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "OPPENHEIMER")

KENNETH BRANAGH: (As Niels Bohr) You're the man who gave them the power to
destroy themselves, and the world is not prepared.

RASCOE: Amid all this publicity, those who live near where the bomb was tested
back in 1945 in New Mexico are fighting to be heard. They were harmed by
radiation but have never been compensated. Nate Hegyi from the public radio
podcast Outside/In reports.



NATE HEGYI, BYLINE: Paul Pino grew up on his family's ranch near Carrizozo, N.M.
He came from tough stock. His dad was struck by lightning. His mom and brothers
10 miles a day herding cattle.

PAUL PINO: And for some of them, nothing could kill them but radiation.

HEGYI: Radiation that fell from the Trinity test. That was the codename for
when, about 40 miles from here, J. Robert Oppenheimer and his team of scientists
tested the world's first atomic bomb. The resulting explosion created a plume so
big that it spread radioactive ash more than a hundred miles away, including on
Carrizozo.

PINO: Some people thought it was the end of the world, and they started praying
like crazy, you know, to Santa Rita or whoever 'cause they thought, the sun's
coming up on the wrong side of the world.

HEGYI: The project was top secret. The federal government told locals at the
time that it was just an ammo dump explosion, that there was no danger. But the
resulting fallout from the Trinity test burned the hair off cattle and covered
the land in white dust. As late as the 1980s, government studies showed that
people living in the fallout zone were exposed to unsafe levels of radiation.
Hundreds in the area have since been diagnosed with radiogenic cancers,
including Pino's older brother and his mom. She died from bone cancer. Pino says
it was incredibly painful.

PINO: Like, if you were on the rack and getting stretched or those medieval
things they used to do to torture people - she went through that, like, every
day because of cancer.

TINA CORDOVA: When are we going to hold our government accountable for testing a
nuclear device in our backyard?

HEGYI: That's Tina Cordova. Like Pino, she grew up downwind of the Trinity test
and is leading an effort to get the federal government to provide restitution
for cancer patients and their families there. She wants Congress to do that by
amending the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. It was established in 1990 to
provide a $50,000 payment to radiogenic cancer patients who lived downwind of
nuclear tests. But right now, it only covers a few counties in the southwest
that were exposed to fallout from other tests in Nevada in the 1950s and '60s.

CORDOVA: How is it that we were left out when we were the very first people
exposed to radiation as a result of an atomic bomb?

HEGYI: Cordova wants the act greatly expanded to include not only victims of the
Trinity test but cancer patients in other states in U.S. territories as well who
were exposed to fallout from nuclear explosions between 1944 and 1962.

CORDOVA: The bottom line is American citizens, human beings in the American
West, including New Mexico, were horribly harmed because of our government's
pursuit of nuclear superiority. And those American citizens need to be
acknowledged and taken care of.

HEGYI: Cordova has the ear of New Mexico Democratic Senator Ben Ray Lujan. He
has repeatedly introduced legislation in Congress that would amend the act, but
it never passes.

BEN RAY LUJAN: Many of my colleagues that do not support these efforts say that
it's - it costs too much money.

HEGYI: The government estimates the amendment would cost about $5 billion a
year. But proponents point out that the U.S. spends nearly 10 times that
maintaining its nuclear arsenal. Lujan pushes back on critics of the amendment.

LUJAN: What I'll tell them is, go look at our constituents in the eyes and tell
them that their lives or their parent's lives or kid's lives don't matter and
that it's too expensive to care for them.

HEGYI: The latest iteration of the bill was introduced in the Senate in May. For
NPR News, I'm Nate Hegyi in Carrizozo, N.M. Transcript provided by NPR,
Copyright NPR.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text
may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future.
Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s
programming is the audio record.

STAND UP FOR CIVILITY

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members —
listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and
trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling
stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a
community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor
support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give
today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and
more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Donate
 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * LinkedIn
 * Email

Nate Hegyi
Nate is UM School of Journalism reporter. He reads the news on Montana Public
Radio three nights a week.
See stories by Nate Hegyi
TOP HEADLINES

 1. More than 2 decades later, Hartford still bleeds green, says former Whalers
    announcer Chuck Kaiton
 2. Hartford Democrats endorse Arunan Arulampalam for mayor
 3. Thousands of fake traffic tickets recorded by CT state police to be formally
    reviewed
 4. Court rejects Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim's bid to regain law license
 5. New Haven Housing Authority report highlights need for affordable housing







SIGN UP FOR OUR DAILY YOUR START NEWSLETTER DELIVERED EVERY MORNING

First name

Last name

Email address

Your Start Newsletter
Verification

City
Agree to Terms and Conditions




Stay Connected
 * twitter
 * instagram
 * youtube
 * facebook
 * linkedin

© 2023 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
 * About Us
 * Company News
 * Executive Leadership
 * Staff
 * Board of Trustees
 * Community Advisory Board
 * Media Enterprises
 * Careers
 * Contact Us
 * Support Us
 * Submit a News Tip
 * Newsletter Sign-up
 * Podcasts & RSS Feeds
 * Radio Livestream
 * Diversity Statement
 * Community Guidelines
 * Passport
 * Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO)
 * Donor & Member Privacy Policy
 * Privacy Policy & Terms of Use
 * Annual Financial Statements & Filings
 * Broadcast Coverage
 * Closed Captioning
 * FCC Applications
 * Syndication Policy
 * Conflict of Interest Policy
 * Editorial Independence Policy

 * 
 * 
 * 










Learn More

LEARN MORE

Learn more about us!