I just learned of the "Demon Core" incidents, where, no less than two times, esteemed scientists killed themselves, and injured others, because they played around with a lethal radiation source like it was a toy. Pic related is a recreation of one of these experiments. The outer shell is a neutron reflector, which would trigger a criticality in the radioactive core inside if it was allowed to cover the whole thing. And so the scientist just used a regular shitty screwdriver to hold the shell up to create a small gap on the side. Then of course, one day the screwdriver slipped, and he died of radiation poisoning a few days later.

My question is: How is it possible that these people could be such bright scientists but also so pants-on-head retarded at the same time?