Emily Chan
Although the risks of coming close to the Elephant’s Foot were high, some researchers wanted to study it anyway. They could not drill it, but after shooting it with an AKM rifle, they were able to make a dent in it.
The Elephant’s Foot may not be as potent as it once was, but it still poses a threat to anyone in close proximity to it. In order to avoid risking anyone else’s health, researchers have been trying to replicate the Elephant’s Foot in a lab.
In 2020, experts at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom successfully created a smaller version of the Elephant’s Foot using depleted uranium, which is 40 percent less radioactive than natural uranium.
However, since the replica is just a simulation, researchers should not expect to take the results of the studies at face value.
While the studies of the simulation may not be completely accurate, the model does allow for plenty of experiments without putting anyone in harm’s way. It is also helpful in ensuring that nothing like the Elephant’s Foot ever happens again.
