One-Million-Liter Test Sphere facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
One-Million-Liter Test Sphere
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
|
|
| Nearest city | Frederick, Maryland |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1951 |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000696 |
| Added to NRHP | November 23, 1977 |
The One-Million-Liter Test Sphere is a special building at Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA. It was used to study how tiny germs, called biological agents, spread through the air. This huge sphere was built by the U.S. Army Biological Warfare Laboratories for their research program from 1951 to 1969.
It is the biggest chamber ever made for studying how germs travel in the air. In 1977, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site. People also called it the "Eight Ball" because of its shape.
Contents
What is the Test Sphere?
The test sphere is a giant, round structure made of stainless steel. It stands as tall as a four-story building and weighs 131 tons. Its walls are about one inch thick. This strong design helped it stay safe even if tests inside involved spreading germs.
The sphere was originally inside a brick building. Its main job was to study how germs spread through the air. Scientists also tested devices designed to release these germs.
How did they use the sphere?
The sphere allowed scientists to carefully control how many germs were in the air. This helped them understand how germs might affect living things if breathed in. Animals were sometimes placed inside for these tests. Also, human volunteers helped by breathing in small, measured amounts of certain germs, like those causing Q fever or tularemia, through special openings.
History of the Test Sphere (1947-1969)
A scientist named Herbert G. Tanner had an idea. He wanted a place where biological tests could happen right at Fort Detrick. Before this, such tests had to be done in far-off places like Utah or Mississippi.
The test sphere was built between 1947 and 1948. It started working at Fort Detrick in 1950.
Operation Whitecoat studies
The test sphere was used during the Operation Whitecoat studies. These studies took place from 1954 to 1973. The very first test using the sphere for Operation Whitecoat happened on January 25, 1955. These studies involved volunteers helping scientists learn more about diseases.
History of the Test Sphere (1969-Today)
The One-Million-Liter Test Sphere has not been used since 1969. This was when President Richard Nixon decided to stop the US offensive biological weapons program.
The brick building that covered the test sphere was destroyed by a fire in 1974. However, the sphere itself remained. In 1977, it was officially recognized as a historic place.
