Uranium – Twisting the Dragon’s Tail
| Uranium – Twisting the Dragon's Tail | |
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| Directed by | Wain Fimeri |
| Starring | Derek Muller |
| Music by | Dale Cornelius |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
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| Cinematography | Jaems Grant |
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| Running time | 162 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Gene Pool Productions |
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Uranium – Twisting the Dragon's Tail (2015) is a three-part television documentary series about uranium, its history and its uses. It was produced by Gene Pool Productions for PBS and SBS, and premiered on both networks in late July and August 2015. The series was conceived, created, written and directed by Wain Fimeri, was shot in nine countries and is presented by Derek Muller, a physicist, engineer, and presenter on the ABC science program, Catalyst. Muller is also known for his YouTube channel, Veritasium.
In the first episode, Derek Muller tells the story of uranium and how it came to be. It shows how uranium, originally sourced from pitchblende, became the subject of intense scientific study. The effects of radiation and how radioactive elements decay are also discussed, including some of the harmful effects of uranium, and how the element enabled a single bomb that ended World War II.
In Northern Australia indigenous people have ancient stories for the place where the uranium is found. They say a great creation spirit sleeps underground, and disturbing this spirit will unleash disaster. This episode explores how from the ashes of Hiroshima, uranium promised a new Atomic Age.The same power that destroyed the city was harnessed to generate unprecedented amounts of energy and treat cancer.
The third and final episode points out that uranium saves lives, treats cancer and brings hope to millions with a promise of clean, limitless power. Dr Derek Muller visits Chernobyl and Fukushima, where uranium became a nightmare. The proposition that in our energy-hungry, warming world, uranium both tempts with unbelievable power and threatens all life on earth is explored- its dual roles as destroyer and saviour, dream and nightmare.
The series premiered on 6 August 2015, the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. The SBS premiere in Australia occurred during a year-long inquiry into the possible expansion of nuclear industrialization in South Australia. The inquiry is known as the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission. A period for public submissions to the Commission closed in the week prior to the screening of the series.
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