Science and Engineering, The Secret of the Tungus Meteorite
This episode of Science and Engineering investigates the Tunguska Event (Tungus Meteorite) that occurred in the Eastern Siberian Taiga on June 30th, 1908. Scientists believe that a meteorite came in contact with the earth's atmosphere and exploded shortly before hitting the earth's surface, leveling nearly 800 square miles of trees.
"It was heard 700 miles away. Instruments registered it in Saint Petersburg, Berlin, London and even Washington. The explosion produced strange disturbances in the atmosphere. The first two nights after the blast were so light, that people in Paris could read newspapers and Londoners could even take pictures."
The first expedition to the site did not take place until 1927 by a mineralogist named Leonid Kulik who returned in 1930. No impact crater could be found. The host explores various theories and recounts an interview with astronomer Igor Zotkin about his research. According to Zotkin, "The dominant opinion seems to be that the nucleus of a small comet flew into the earth's atmosphere...the nucleus was a one million ton boulder. The ice and frozen gas became dispersed in the denser layers of the atmosphere and the solid particles fused and scattered in the forest in the form of tiny balls no larger than the point of a needle. "
Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection
WNYC archives id: 150282
Municipal archives id: T4052
