Nuclear chemist 'ate uranium' on camera to prove point about radiation just a year before Chernobyl

Uranium is known to be radioactive and so, naturally, it's not the kind of thing you should treat like a sandwich - just in case you were ever planning on doing so.

However, in a bid to prove the substance was harmless, a nuclear chemist decided to 'eat uranium' on camera.

Taking "pics or it didn't happen" to a whole new level, nuclear chemist Galen Winsor might have been convinced nothing would happen if he 'ate uranium,' but he's probably glad he ended up papping himself doing so after experiencing quite an unanticipated reaction.

Winsor was in charge of measuring and controlling the nuclear fuel inventory and storage at the Hanford nuclear site in Washington, which ran and processed the extraction of plutonium.

Studying nuclear radiation since the 1950s, Winsor believed there was widespread 'misunderstanding' about it.

And to prove just how harmless a substance he believed uranium to be, he decided to chomp down on some on camera during a tour of the Northwest of the US for the conservative John Birch Society - shortly before the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.

The footage has gone viral (YouTube)

Winsor shared his theories on the over-regulation on the industry, and took things to the next level to prove his point in 1985.

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 anyway. What a way to prove a point, eh?

Although, his consumption of the substance had a surprising effect - nothing. He continued talking, teaching and living his life.

"What I've just done makes me high level nuclear waste," Winsor told the crowd, 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."

While Winsor was seemingly okay after eating uranium, it's definitely important to stress not to try this at home.

Winsor ultimately 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, 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.