An Atomic Odyssey
By Matt Malinowski
A brilliant red glow hung in the sky over the mountains to the north of Las Vegas as the Aurora Borealis put on a cosmic performance for one night only. This interstellar light show had locals and tourists looking away from the neon glitz of the Strip and up towards the stars. The aurora was a sight to behold and a rarity this far south—it was also a reminder of Nevada’s nuclear past and a looking glass into our atomic connections to the universe.
Photo by Matt Malinowski.
The Atomic Glow of Aurora Borealis over Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, 2024.
Seventy years ago, from nearly the same direction, dozens of silent flashes more luminous than the sun pierced the early morning sky followed by rising plumes of crimson and forceful rolling thunder. The Nevada Test Site conducted 100 atmospheric nuclear tests during the Atomic Age, resulting in mushroom clouds that could occasionally be seen from strategic vantage points across the valley. These events became spectacles and Las Vegas casinos promoted atomic tourism and hosted bomb watching parties, while other blasts were broadcast live over the airwaves. The Atomic Museum in Las Vegas continues to share the stories and legacy of this unique period in Nevada’s history.
Curious aurora onlookers were viewing the natural atomic behavior of the cosmos. During an event called a coronal mass ejection, an almost unfathomable number of tiny protons are launched out of the sun’s magnetic field and into deep space. The minuscule protons hurtle across vast distances, and some are drawn into the Earth’s magnetic field. In our atmosphere, the positively charged protons interact with elements like oxygen and nitrogen, disrupting electrons and creating countless tiny releases of energy in the form of photons that paint the sky with watercolor hues of red and emerald.
Photo courtesy of Atomic Museum.
Rendering of Atomic Odyssey at the Atomic Museum, 2024.
Atomic Odyssey, an upcoming exhibit at the Atomic Museum, will further explore the nuclear nature of the universe through experiential exhibits and immersive technology. Visitors will discover the realm of the atom and investigate engaging challenges to build elements, trigger nuclear reactions, and uncover the mysteries of radiation. While our understanding of atoms and nuclear reactions has led to weapons we hope to never see used again, many other discoveries have been applied for the benefit of humanity, and some may hold the key to clean, sustainable energy of the future. Atomic Odyssey hopes to inspire the next generation of innovators and spark curiosity in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math.
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I sat at the overlook of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area watching more and more people arrive as the aurora grew in vibrance. Fumbling with the settings of my camera, I thought about how we are all on an Atomic Odyssey, linked by the atoms and the elements within our own bodies that were formed by nuclear reactions during the life and death of stars. As astronomer and science communicator Carl Sagan once accurately said, “we are made of star stuff.” I took a deep breath, smiled, and leaned in to take another long-exposure photo of the brilliance of our connected atomic universe.
Matt Malinowski is the Director of Education at the Atomic Museum. He holds a master’s degree in Museum Studies from Harvard University along with a graduate certificate in Digital Storytelling. His Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State is in Biology with a minor in Anthropology. Matt is passionate about museums, science, history, writing, and wildlife.
Double Down Blogger photo courtesy of Matt Malinowski.