Porton Down: Britain’s Secret Nerve Gas Lab
Geographics・2 minutes read
Porton Down, a UK nerve gas lab with a controversial history of testing nerve agents and bioweapons, conducted unethical human trials resulting in fatalities, leading to investigations and stricter regulations. Despite past controversies, the lab remains operational, providing expertise on incidents like the 2018 Novichok attack in Salisbury.
Insights
- Porton Down, a UK nerve gas lab, has a dark history of developing chemical weapons dating back to WWI, including mustard gas and nerve agents like sarin, leading to human trials and casualties.
- The facility conducted unethical experiments exposing thousands of soldiers to nerve agents, resulting in the tragic death of Ronald Maddison in 1953, sparking stricter regulations and eventual public scrutiny through disclosures by former volunteer Gordon Bell.
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Recent questions
What is Porton Down?
Research facility for chemical and bioweapons.
What happened in Ypres in 1915?
Major gas attack killing Allied soldiers.
Who discovered the first nerve agent?
Gerhard Schrader.
What happened to Ronald Maddison in 1953?
Died during sarin experiment.
What is VX?
Deadliest nerve agent developed at Porton Down.
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