Album: Name that Radiation Detector

Manhattan Project National Historical Park

Did you know that a lot of thought went into naming the radiation detectors used during the Manhattan Project and beyond? Take "Sandy" for instance. This portable detector measures alpha radiation. It was originally called “Pluto” after Mickey Mouse’s dog. Pluto sounded too similar to Plutonium, though, making it a security breach. “Snoops” became the next name, but it never caught on. Eventually, “Sandy,” the name of little orphan Annie’s dog, came up and stuck. Click on this photo album to meet Sandy as well as Cutie Pie, Pancake, Vamp, Juno, Doc, Poppy, and more. You'll never look at radiation detectors the same way again.