Shocking moment nuclear chemist 'ate uranium' to prove it was harmless

A nuclear chemist once 'ate uranium' while on camera to prove the substance was harmless.

The nuclear industry is certainly a much-talked-about one ever since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 which caused disruption across the entire globe.

But before all of that, nuclear chemist Galen Winsor toured the Northwest of the US for the conservative John Birch Society, where he would share theories on the over-regulation of the industry.

Winsor's interest in the topic began way back in the 1950s as he began running and even processing the extraction of plutonium at the Hanford nuclear site in Washington.

He was in charge of measuring and controlling the nuclear fuel inventory and storage, while he later traveled and spoke to people across the US, talked on the radio, and made many videos discussing the 'misunderstanding' surrounding nuclear radiation.

The footage has gone viral (YouTube)

In 1985, Winsor took things to the next level to prove his point as he was recorded holding up a bottle containing - what he says is - radioactive uranium oxide.

Just the name sounds like something that would kill you, but Winsor decided to proceed.

"The state of Washington sent two of its Gestapo agents over to my home to confiscate my uranium samples," he said in a video, which has since been posted to the likes of YouTube and Twitter.

Remarkably, Winsor ends up consuming the substance, much to the surprise of those at the lecture watching on.

"What I've just done makes me high level nuclear waste," he said shortly after taking a tongue reading with his Geiger counter.

"According to federal regulations, they will have to bury me 3,000 feet in Carlsbad, N.M."

Winsor added: "I do this in front of audiences, and they go wild."

Winsor died at the age of 82 in 2008, some 20 years after consuming the uranium oxide. His cause of death was not revealed in his obituary.

The remarkable video has resurfaced multiple times, with many on the internet having their say.

"Galen is an absolute legend. If all of the engineers and scientists in society were like him, we'd be in a much better state," one person commented on YouTube.

While a second added: "He lived until 82 which shows how it really is not dangerous in small portions."

Of course, you really shouldn't be doing this at home and it's not clear if the substance Winsor 'ate' was actually uranium.

How Stuff Works reports that consuming 25 milligrams will immediately 'wreak havoc on the kidneys'. Meanwhile, 'eating' 50 milligrams could result in death.