26. Chernobyl — How It Happened

This is a public lecture video from the MIT course 22.01 "Introduction to Nuclear Engineering and Ionizing Radiation" (Autumn 2016), presented by Professor Michael Short. The content focuses on the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident, reconstructing the entire chain of events from an engineering and physical perspective, rather than just historical storytelling or political analysis. The core highlights include Professor Short's systematic dissection of the design flaws of the RBMK reactor, the specific errors made by the operators, and how these two factors combined to lead to the steam explosion and core meltdown. The course is accompanied by diagrams of reactor principles, control rod structures, and physical parameters, providing a直观 demonstration of how concepts like the "positive void coefficient" can cause a reactor to lose control instantaneously. This helps viewers understand the engineering logic behind nuclear accidents, rather than just memorizing the "disaster" label. The target audience includes students in nuclear engineering, energy, or physics-related fields, as well as the general public with an interest in nuclear power safety. Even without a professional background, anyone with basic physics knowledge can follow the main ideas. Viewing suggestions: it's recommended to first familiarize yourself with the basic structure of the RBMK reactor before watching the video, which will enhance the viewing experience; also, pay attention to the professor's derivation details on the blackboard, as these are crucial for understanding the mechanisms of the accident.