A 1,000-X-ray blob: Why Chernobyl’s Elephant’s Foot still terrifies scientists

Nearly four decades after the Chernobyl disaster, the remnants of Reactor No. 4, especially the Elephant’s Foot—a dense, highly radioactive mass formed from molten core materials—remain a powerful symbol of the nuclear accident’s enduring danger. Rare footage from the 1980s and 1990s captured by radiation experts shows the extreme conditions inside the reactor’s basement. Despite time and decay, the site continues to pose a threat, serving as a chilling reminder of the long-lasting impact of radiation exposure.