Photographer Alastair Philip Wiper has captured the inner workings of one of America's most secretive scientific facilities in his photography project titled "The Secret City." The series documents the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, a facility that was originally established in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project and has since evolved into one of the nation's premier research institutions.
The laboratory's origins trace back to World War II, when it was built with the primary purpose of refining uranium and plutonium for atomic bomb production. The facility quickly became a bustling community, with its population swelling to 75,000 residents during the war. The project's name "The Secret City" is not arbitrary – it refers to the community's hidden existence and classified mission. Most residents remained unaware of their work's true purpose until the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan in 1945, finally revealing the nature of their contributions to the war effort.
Following the war's end, Oak Ridge National Laboratory underwent a dramatic transformation in its mission and scope. The facility shifted from weapons production to becoming a national center for nuclear research, materials science, biology, energy studies, and computer technology. Today, it stands as one of the largest science and energy laboratories operating under the U.S. Department of Energy system, conducting cutting-edge research across multiple scientific disciplines.
Wiper's photographs provide unprecedented access to the laboratory's most significant facilities and equipment. Among the spaces documented is the historic X-10 Graphite Reactor, which began operations in 1943 and continued running until 1963. This reactor holds the distinction of being the world's first continuously operating nuclear reactor. Initially designed to prove that plutonium could be produced for nuclear weapons, the reactor later served multiple peaceful purposes, including generating the first nuclear electricity and producing radioisotopes for medical, agricultural, and industrial applications. These isotopes have been crucial for cancer treatments, crop studies, and various industrial testing procedures.
Another major facility captured in the series is the High Flux Isotope Reactor, which remains the most powerful reactor-based neutron source in the United States. This facility continues to produce critical medical isotopes, including plutonium-238, which NASA uses in space missions. The reactor pools house spent nuclear fuel, and visitors can observe the distinctive blue glow in the water, known as Cherenkov radiation, which indicates the presence of recently irradiated fuel.
The laboratory's current research extends far beyond nuclear physics into biological and medical applications. Wiper photographed the MaNDi neutron diffractometer, an important instrument that studies biological materials by scattering neutrons off samples to map atomic structures. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this equipment played a crucial role in investigating the structure of the SARS-CoV-2 protease, providing valuable data that supported drug development research for vaccines.
The facility also houses the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center, where skilled technicians handle radioactive isotopes inside specialized hot cells using remote manipulators. One particularly promising isotope, actinium-225, is currently being tested in clinical trials for treating leukemia and brain cancer. These hot cells are enclosed rooms with thick shielding that enable remote operations without exposing workers to direct radiation, representing the advanced safety measures employed at the facility.
The laboratory's infrastructure reflects its diverse functions and sophisticated research capabilities. The site includes laboratories, hot cells, reactors, accelerators, computing centers, and extensive utility lines. The design philosophy emphasizes functionality, with large buildings housing reactors, long corridors accommodating accelerators, and specially shielded cells for radiochemical work. Utility drain lines efficiently manage water and waste produced during experiments, while control rooms operate the complex reactor and accelerator systems. The facility combines steel, concrete, specialized shielding materials, electronic systems, and high-power computing hardware to support its wide-ranging research missions.
Through his comprehensive documentation, Wiper has created a visual narrative that transforms our understanding of this once-secret facility. "The Secret City" series presents a formerly war-oriented research facility that has successfully evolved into a world-class nuclear research laboratory, contributing to scientific advancement, medical breakthroughs, and space exploration while maintaining its position at the forefront of American scientific innovation.
