SHADOWS AND LIES
Let's just think about this for a second. Firstly, is there anything intrinsic about casting a shadow that involves vaporization? When a person goes out on a summer day and a shadow falls on the ground beside them, are they vaporized? No. So, the existence of a shadow does not imply vaporization whatsoever. But the Hiroshima shadows are permanent markings, not like ordinary shadows at all. They are caused by the area within the shadow remaining the original colour, while the exposed background areas were heat-damaged and discolored. Like this:
"But there is a shadow on the ground and yet no dead body present - obviously they were vaporized!"
The absence of the person who made the shadow means absolutely nothing. They could have died there, and the corpse subsequently removed for cremation. OR they could have stumbled off, injured. OR they could have been rescued and subsequently been treated in hospital. But one thing did not happen for sure - they did not disappear in a puff of smoke. For that to happen, they would need to be within the fireball, and in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the fireball did not touch the ground.
If I read anywhere or hear anyone talking about people being vaporized in Hiroshima or Nagasaki, I immediately know that person hasn't the faintest clue and any subsequent claim they then make ought to be treated with extreme suspicion - being just as likely to be barefaced propaganda as actual fact.
So, what DID happen to objects which cast these shadows? Well, just like the ground, they were burnt and discolored too, on the side facing the fireball. Like this:
So, what DID happen to objects which cast these shadows? Well, just like the ground, they were burnt and discolored too, on the side facing the fireball. Like this:
"People who were terribly burned like this would surely die, so each shadow would at least represent a death, surely?"
Yes, most of those who cast permanent shadows presumably died, as each would have been exposed to considerable radiant heat.
But not all.
Look at this casualty's flashburn injury:
His name is Sumiteru Taniguchi. He was out riding on a bike delivering mail in Nagasaki when the detonation occurred. He survived, despite his severe burns.
The fact of the matter is that for any particular radiant heat exposure the likelihood of survival would depend on many factors, including:
1. Length of time exposed to the radiant exposure (ducking and covering would reduce this).
2. Clothing worn (heavy, loose white clothing being extremely effective protection against radiant flashburns)
3. Time elapsed until first delivery of medical care, and the quality and quantity of medical care delivered.
4. Age of the casualty and pre-existing health status.
5. The presence or absence of other injury (e.g. fractures, traumatic amputation, penetrating wounds, crush injuries etc, etc)
6. Psychological state of the casualty during the extended recovery phase
1. Length of time exposed to the radiant exposure (ducking and covering would reduce this).
2. Clothing worn (heavy, loose white clothing being extremely effective protection against radiant flashburns)
3. Time elapsed until first delivery of medical care, and the quality and quantity of medical care delivered.
4. Age of the casualty and pre-existing health status.
5. The presence or absence of other injury (e.g. fractures, traumatic amputation, penetrating wounds, crush injuries etc, etc)
6. Psychological state of the casualty during the extended recovery phase
FACT SUMMARY:
- Whenever seeing a permanent shadow made by an atomic bomb, one can conclude that enough radiant heat was delivered at that site to discolor the background material (or alter its surface texture).
- Nobody was vaporized at Hiroshima, nor Nagasaki.
- One can reasonably presume with each shadow that a lethal injury was inflicted, although each outcome actually depended upon the clothing worn, the extent of exposure to gamma radiation, co-existing physical injuries, etc, etc.
- It is entirely theoretically possible for a casualty in Hiroshima or Nagasaki to cast a permanent shadow and yet to have survived.
- Last but not least, personnel wearing heavy loose white clothing over all their skin, and people indoors (those away from windows), will barely sustain any flashburns at all. This was true in Japan in 1945 and is still true today.