The biohazard symbol tattoo is a symbol that represents danger, resilience, and the fragility of life. It serves as a reminder of potential risks and hazards, urging individuals to approach life with caution and preparedness. The symbol combines a triangle and a circle, signifying a warning of something dangerous, such as toxic waste or contagious disease. The biohazard symbol, commonly known as the three interlocking circles with a trefoil in the center, carries various meanings when incorporated into a tattoo. One interpretation is that it represents a sense of rebellion or rebellion.
In modern society, a biohazard tattoo is often seen as a symbol of strength, resilience, and a willingness to confront challenges head-on. Some individuals choose to get a biohazard tattoo, while others argue that warnings are stigmatizing. Biohazard tattoos mark people who have HIV like biohazards or radioactive waste, and they help HIV patients and the gay community express themselves. The symbol draws attention, and the message behind it is deeper than you might think.
The biohazard tattoo is a popular design among certain subcultures and usually signifies some awareness and acceptance of mortality and a desire to take control of one’s own destiny. It is often used by the gay community as a way of telling people they are infected with HIV or AIDS. The tattoo conveys the false idea that we are dangerous social miscreants hell-bent on infecting others, which some people still believe. To some, it also means you are willing to give HIV to others and have HIV.
Historically, the biohazard tattoo represents something that should be avoided at the risk of one’s health. It indicates something dangerous and is meant to signify strength, stability, and growth now. However, it is one of the beautiful things about having your own body be.
📹 Why danger symbols can’t last forever
Correction: The correct spelling of “warning” in Persian is هشدار. Watch the previous episode from this series: http://bit.ly/2DDIQAL …
What Does The Biohazard Symbol Represent?
The term "biohazard," as defined for this symbol, refers to infectious agents that present a potential risk to human health through direct infection or environmental disruption. This symbol, typically fluorescent orange or orange-red, serves as a globally recognized warning to indicate materials that can harm human health, animal welfare, or the environment. The biohazard symbol has a notable history, evolving from a myriad of confusing warning signs prior to 1966, which few people understood. Environmental and health engineer Charles Baldwin recognized the need for a clearer symbol while working for Dow Chemical Company on containment products.
Historically inspired by the Triskele, an ancient emblem denoting interconnectedness, the biohazard symbol comprises four circles that symbolize the chain of infection: the pathogen (Agent), the infected organism (Host), and the mechanisms involved in the transmission of these infectious agents. Developed by Baldwin in collaboration with Robert S. Runkle from the NIH, the symbol was meticulously designed to convey its vital role in public health effectively.
Serving as an international icon, the biohazard symbol communicates the presence of hazardous biological agents. It appears on various substances, materials, and containers that pose potential dangers to human life. The design’s intention was to provide uniformity and clarity in hazardous materials labeling, especially in environments utilizing various dangerous substances. The biohazard emblem became essential in laboratories, hospitals, and medical facilities, ensuring those at risk could take necessary precautions against exposure.
In the context of the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), materials identified with the biohazard symbol indicate a biological risk, reinforcing awareness and preparedness among workers. Additionally, it is speculated that the symbol abstractly represents a microscope's three lenses, symbolizing the triad of hazards associated with microorganisms, toxins, and bioactive materials.
Overall, the biohazard symbol encapsulates a thoughtful design that has transcended its original intention, becoming a universal marker of caution against biological threats, facilitating a safer environment in various settings for both professionals and the public.
What Does Biohazard Tattoo Mean?
The biohazard symbol has gained immense popularity as a tattoo, largely due to its compelling graphic design and the meanings it conveys. It often carries ironic significance, symbolizing danger, resilience, and the fragility of life. Many individuals choose this tattoo to reflect a cautious approach to life, highlighting awareness of potential risks and hazards. The symbol serves as a poignant reminder to confront challenges and emerge stronger from adversity.
Graphically, the biohazard design is characterized by three interlocking circles forming a trefoil shape. Traditionally, it is depicted in black or yellow against a white background, sometimes surrounded by a hazard warning triangle, alerting viewers to biological threats like toxic waste or contagious diseases. The tattoo is not only a warning symbol but also expresses themes of rebellion and resistance against societal norms.
The significance of a biohazard tattoo varies among individuals, with some regarding it as an indicator of an intense personality and a desire to live boldly. The tattoo symbolizes a recognition and acceptance of mortality and an assertion of control over one's fate. In particular, within certain subcultures, it embodies an awareness of life's precariousness and a willingness to navigate through its dangers.
One notable adoption of the biohazard symbol has been among members of the gay community, utilized as a way for individuals living with HIV or AIDS to disclose their status. The tattoo communicates a message that can dismantle stereotypes around those who are infected, opening dialogue about HIV and personal experiences. While it may carry connotations of danger, it also acts as a tribute to resilience and survival, representing the individual’s journey through hardship and personal growth.
Despite its dark associations, the biohazard tattoo is often embraced for its deeper meanings. Individuals may choose to display it as a testament to their strength after overcoming significant challenges or as a remembrance of loved ones lost to illness. Moreover, its versatility and adaptability allow it to resonate with various personal experiences, symbolizing not only vulnerability but also triumph and determination.
While some may perceive the biohazard tattoo as a sign of danger and social deviance, many view it as a badge of honor. It draws attention to the unpredictability of life and the need for individuals to remain aware of biological threats. In contexts such as crime scene cleanup, for instance, the biohazard symbol denotes the serious nature of the substances involved, reinforcing the importance of safety and awareness.
In conclusion, the biohazard tattoo is much more than a striking visual; it embodies complex themes of danger, resilience, identity, and personal narrative, serving as a powerful statement of an individual’s journey through life and survival amidst adversity.
What Does The Biohazardous Infectious Symbol Mean?
The biohazard symbol represents materials containing organisms or toxins that can cause diseases in humans or animals, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. This symbol serves as a critical warning in the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). The four circles in the biohazard symbol symbolize the infection chain, encompassing agent, host, source, and transmission. Each component plays a role in outlining how infections occur and the potential hazards associated.
Initially developed in 1966 by Charles Baldwin, an environmental-health engineer for Dow Chemical Company, the biohazard symbol has become a globally recognized sign for biological risks. Its design is intentional; the circular shape conveys a message that is clear from any orientation, ensuring visibility and understanding regardless of its placement.
Materials marked with the biohazard symbol, which includes viral samples and used hypodermic needles, indicate potential health risks that need to be handled with extreme care. In WHMIS, biohazardous infectious materials fall under Risk Groups 2, 3, or 4, as defined by the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act, which specifies the level of risk involved.
The biohazard symbol not only signifies the presence of infectious biological materials but also incorporates precautionary measures to restrict laboratory access when such materials are being handled. It communicates the agents in use and lays out entry and exit requirements for safety management.
Common biohazards include human bodily fluids such as blood and saliva, which can transmit infectious diseases. The universal appeal and recognition of the biohazard symbol underline its significance in public health and safety domains, particularly in hospitals and laboratories where the risk of exposure to infectious agents is apparent.
In summary, the biohazard symbol plays an essential role in warning individuals about potential health threats posed by biological materials and serves to promote safe handling procedures in environments dealing with such hazards.
What Does A Biohazard Symbol Represent?
The biohazard symbol is an internationally recognized warning icon, consisting of a circle enclosed within a triangle and three inward-pointing arrows. It visually represents containment (the circle) and caution (the triangle), aimed at alerting individuals to the presence of materials that could endanger human health, animal welfare, or the environment. Despite its broad recognition today, the symbol has deep historical roots, originating from a time before 1966 when various confusing biohazard signs existed, and their meanings were not widely understood.
The symbol was designed by Charles Baldwin, an environmental and health engineer from Dow Chemical Company, who identified the need for a clear, standardized warning for biohazardous materials. The biohazard symbol embodies four circles, each signifying a different aspect of the infection chain: agent, transmission, source, and host. This comprehensive depiction allows for better public understanding of biological risks.
The biohazard symbol is particularly critical in areas dealing with hazardous materials, including biological substances that may carry serious health risks such as blood, which can transmit pathogens like HIV or hepatitis. In addition to the biohazard symbol, the Global Harmonization System (GHS), part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)'s Hazard Communication Standard, utilizes various symbols to indicate specific hazards, including poison, tissue irritation, and disease transmission.
The biohazard symbol's prevalence serves to remind individuals to take necessary precautions when handling potentially dangerous materials. Its design is purposeful, aiming for maximum recognition globally, reinforcing the significance of awareness regarding biohazards. The symbol plays a pivotal role in the labeling of materials that pose a health risk, helping to prevent exposure and transmission of infectious agents.
Established in 1966, the biohazard symbol is a vital part of biosafety protocols in laboratories, hospitals, and various workplaces. Its creation marked a significant shift towards standardizing warnings related to biological hazards, emphasizing the importance of public and professional safety. By understanding the biohazard symbol and its implications, individuals can better protect themselves from potential dangers associated with hazardous biological materials. Thus, the biohazard symbol is not just a logo; it represents a commitment to health safety and awareness across the globe.
Why Get A Biohazard Tattoo?
The biohazard tattoo serves as a powerful conversation starter, enabling the wearer to share their journey and inspire others facing similar challenges. Its symbolism represents strength, resilience, and a bold approach to confronting life’s difficulties. Recognized globally, the biohazard symbol warns of hazardous materials that threaten health and safety; thus, wearing it can signify both awareness of danger and a fascination with the risky aspects of life. For some, a biohazard tattoo reflects a perceived status as social outcasts, while for others, it embodies a rebellious spirit and acceptance of mortality.
This tattoo is particularly popular among certain subcultures for its intricate design and ironic significance. The iconic symbol typically features a black or green triangular logo with radiation waves emanating from the center, representing biological hazards. While some view it as a mark of societal rejection, others see it as a means to initiate discussions around topics like HIV, helping to normalize dialogues about such stigmatized issues.
The symbol initially identified hazardous substances in the 1960s but has since permeated popular culture, especially among gay men living with HIV, where it carries profound meaning. Ultimately, individuals choose this tattoo for various reasons—its aesthetic appeal, musical affiliations, or as a badge of survival and self-empowerment. By proudly displaying the biohazard symbol, wearers express their complex personal narratives and foster open discussions while challenging societal misconceptions. Through this emblem, individuals reclaim their stories and signify their triumph over adversity, thereby inspiring others who may feel isolated in their struggles.
What Are The Different Types Of Biohazard Tattoos?
A popular style of biohazard tattoo is the tribal design, which merges the biohazard symbol into more extensive tribal patterns featuring bold, black lines and geometric shapes for a striking appearance. The biohazard tattoo centers on the recognizable biohazard symbol, composed of three interlocking curved lines forming a trefoil shape. This emblem commonly appears in yellow or black against a white backdrop and might be complemented by a hazard warning triangle. Known worldwide, the symbol represents danger, toxicity, and caution, often associated with hazardous materials.
Despite its initial negative associations, the biohazard symbol can be creatively adapted into a unique and meaningful tattoo design. Various styles exist, from classic black and white to detailed or simplistic versions. These tattoos cater to individuals who resonate with the symbol's ominous implications or those looking to personalize it into an innovative art form.
Among stunning examples, the biohazard neck tattoo stands out with its bold black ink. Biohazard tattoos encapsulate themes of caution and rebellion, spotlighting life’s unpredictable and chaotic nature. As enthusiasts explore designs, tattoo inks, which can contain contaminants or irritants, necessitate proper care to prevent potential infections or allergies.
For those interested in finding inspiration, there is a wide array of biohazard tattoo designs available online. From tribal influences to intricate patterns, these tattoos serve both aesthetic and personal significance. Overall, whether for artistic expression or symbolic representation of danger and resilience, biohazard tattoos continue to hold a unique place in tattoo culture, attracting individuals drawn to their compelling imagery and messages.
What Does The Toxic Symbol Mean?
The symbol for toxicity, represented by a skull and crossbones, indicates a substance that can severely damage health, potentially being fatal even in low doses. This toxicity can occur through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact. In commercial contexts, thousands of hazardous chemicals are utilized and transported, prompting the establishment of the GHS (Globally Harmonized System) standard, which categorizes these substances into 29 hazard classes based on various risk factors and physical states (solid, liquid, gas).
The toxic symbol serves as an essential warning against harmful chemicals, easily identifiable and universally recognized. It falls under a broader category of hazard symbols that alert individuals to dangerous materials and situations, which also encompass risks from electromagnetic fields, electric currents, and radioactive substances. Compliance with laws and standards organizations helps ensure these symbols convey clear messages about safety risks.
Among the health hazard pictograms defined by GHS are four key symbols: the toxic symbol, harmful symbol, health hazard symbol, and corrosive symbol. The toxic symbol specifically denotes substances with high acute toxicity. Toxic substances may have lethal effects if they are ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin, with even minimal exposure potentially leading to grave health consequences.
Toxicity is often quantified using LD50 (lethal dose for 50% of subjects) and LC50 (lethal concentration for 50% of subjects) values, with established thresholds indicating hazardous chemicals. For instance, substances with an LD50 value of ≤ 300 mg/kg (oral) or ≤ 1000 mg/kg (dermal), or an LC50 of ≤ 4000 ml/m³ (inhalation) are deemed toxic.
Additionally, the toxic symbol serves to highlight not just immediate dangers like poisoning through consumption or inhalation but also broader environmental risks. Understanding hazard pictograms is crucial for working safely with dangerous chemicals, ensuring both employee safety and protection of the environment against hazardous substances. Proper recognition of toxicity risks is essential in risk assessments and handling hazardous materials effectively.
What Does Poison Symbol Tattoo Mean?
A poison tattoo can convey a sense of danger, implying that the wearer is someone not to be trifled with. It may also represent personal vices or temptations, such as alcohol or gambling, signifying struggles with addiction. The Poison Tree tattoo carries rich symbolism rooted in literary and mythological references, most notably inspired by William Blake's poem "A Poison Tree," which delves into the destructive power of hidden anger and resentment.
Notably, rapper XXXTentacion has a significant "17" tattoo on his forehead, which reflects his emotional turmoil, loss of sanity, and realization of a painful cycle in his youth, along with being the title of his debut album.
This symbolization of a poison tree, with its dual meanings of life and danger, intrigues many. In the tattoo culture, it serves to remind wearers to address their emotions rather than allowing negative feelings to fester. While some tattoos may be just decorative art, many possess deep meanings and personal narratives. A guide exploring 20 lesser-known tattoo meanings highlights the reasons behind their popularity.
Moreover, poison tree tattoos can represent a fascination with the forbidden and the dangers hidden beneath beauty, symbolizing the inherent risks in exploring the unknown. They may also depict resilience, suggesting that the wearer has confronted toxic experiences and emerged stronger. For fans of XXXTentacion, understanding his tattoos, including the Poison Tree, offers insights into his artistic journey and personal struggles.
His Instagram anecdotes surrounding the song "Poison Tree" by Grouper coincide with the moment when he chose to ink the tree on his forehead, which resonates with themes of anger and its consequences depicted in Blake’s poem. The tattoo serves as both an emblem of personal battles and a reminder of how unresolved emotions can lead to destructive behavior. Thus, poison tattoos carry a multifaceted range of meanings, dependent on individual interpretations and experiences.
Why Is A Biohazard Tattoo Important For HIV Patients?
The biohazard tattoo holds significant importance for the gay community and individuals living with HIV. Considered a form of artistic self-expression, this tattoo symbolizes a hidden identity, providing a means for HIV patients and gay individuals to convey their status and experiences. Despite its intended message of openness, some argue that the tattoo is stigmatizing, equating those with HIV to dangerous materials like biohazardous waste.
Critics such as Mikey Barnum voice strong objections, asserting that labeling HIV-positive individuals with a biohazard sign is offensive and dehumanizing. They emphasize that such markings can lead to social ostracism, igniting fears of persecution and violence due to one's health status. The tattoo also aligns with troubling associations within certain communities, where it can be connected to risky behaviors like bug chasing—where HIV-negative individuals seek infection—or willing transmission of HIV.
On the other hand, for some, the biohazard tattoo is a means of self-acceptance and confrontation of one's lived experience with HIV. David Salyer reflects on how the visibility of such tattoos on positive individuals compels a deeper understanding of the long journey facing those with the virus. There exist health concerns regarding tattooing practices for people with HIV, particularly in relation to the risk of transmission through contaminated needles or equipment. While the risk of HIV transmission from a single needle puncture is relatively low, individuals with compromised immune systems—like those with low CD4 counts—should be cautious in seeking tattoos.
The act of tattooing has also been associated with other systemic viral infections, such as hepatitis B and C, raising alarms for both individuals and healthcare providers. Furthermore, it has been documented that tattoos can serve as a conversation starter about HIV, facilitating discussions that could de-stigmatize the condition.
Among men who have sex with men (MSM), tattooing symbols related to HIV/AIDS, including the biohazard symbol and AIDS ribbon, is prevalent. It provides a visual declaration of one's status, allowing some ease in disclosures during intimate encounters, fostering a culture of transparency. The biohazard tattoo holds varied meanings, but for many, it opens the door to dialogue about HIV, promoting awareness and understanding within and beyond the community. Overall, the biohazard tattoo remains a complex and multifaceted symbol in the landscape of HIV identities.
📹 Comparison: Secret Tattoo Meanings
In this comparison video, we will show you secret tattoo meanings! Did you know that 80% of people know the teardrop tattoo …
I like how they said that in a few thousand years people won’t read left to right or be able understand our symbols, but it can’t be a jolly Roger because of course they’d instantly recognise a pirate symbol and think treasure was buried there. I guess pirate lore will be the only thing that stands the test of time
I remember my engineering teacher telling us about universal symbols, like they purposly chose to make the biohazard sign spikey to look dangerous. And the radioactive sign have bigger limbs so it’s easier to notice at a distance. I don’t think these will be replaced unless like somehow the knowledge is lost through a nuclear war maybe, unless someone develops better symbols but these symbols are already very memorable and impressive
We constantly stumble across plague pits in Europe, some less than a 100 years old, others over a thousand. We dig into, grow crops on and run water through potential biohazard disasters on a daily basis because we simply don’t know its there. Symbols and warnings left by forgotten generations are simply misunderstood, ignored or wiped away by the passage of time. Humans are quick to forget where we hide our dark history. A lot can happen to our society in 10,000 years, and history is a fan of repeating itself.
I had a thought in regards to the hostile architecture idea: what if they went with that but they engineered the spires to vibrate (with very little wind) in order to produce infrasound? I remember reading that infrasound can cause intense fear, nausea, and even hallucinations (it’s even thought that infrasound is responsible for certain supposedly haunted houses and their ‘bad vibes’). If there was an area that appeared visually forbidding but also gave you very real physical/ instinctual sensations of terror, that could be very effective in keeping people away. Bonus it would not require any energy to keep it working, though I am not sure how one would go about constructing such a thing. Maybe at some point the land around it could be purposefully salted and burned in a perfect circle around it to REALLY put out the message to not go there (because nothing grows so it is a place of death). Idk, I’m not an expert just a thought I had.
The ancient Egyptians had a pretty good system of warning signs on their tombs which we understood the meaning of: “Come in here and you will be horribly cursed by the Gods”. But we just ignored them. Even if your warnings are long-lived and future scavengers or archaeologists understand their meaning those explorers may still just decide they know better than you anyway. “Nuclear Eternity” is an atmospheric and informative documentary about this problem as it relates to the Finnish nuclear waste depository.
The bioluminescent cat is actually a brilliant idea imo. The same way we humans get alarmed when our dogs start barking at nothing (at least something WE can’t sense), the glowing cat will slowly train our brains to fear them. And to me its already quite scary. Leave all your preconceived ideas for now, and imagine a very desolate place and you have a pet cat with you. It’s no different from taking your pet dog with you at the forest, until it stops and starts growling at a direction with no one…it’s a scary feeling isn’t it? And now imagine your cat, suddenly stops and starts glowing, slowly backing away from the source instinctively. The cat is careful too, because it learned through years of evolution, that its body glows near an invisible source of danger. Again, the danger is invisible to you, but it’s totally being communicated through the cat here.
Skull and crossbones weren’t used by pirates because they wanted to be original, they wanted to put something on their flags that struck fear. Human skulls and bones are naturally fear-inducing because the only time a person can see bones is after a death. It tells people death is approaching. Nowadays, when it’s on a hat and a flag it’s funny because pirates like that don’t exist anymore so we see it as pirate paraphernalia, that doesn’t mean the symbol itself is seen as a pirate symbol. It’s meaning was given due to biological warning signs, not abstract human creativity. The real reason we use different hazard signs is because death isn’t the only thing we have to communicate. You don’t instantly die when you enter a radioactive or biohazardous area, you may not even die at all. Deaths can occur anywhere from a few seconds to a few years. An everyday x-ray room needs a radioactive symbol on the door, and an everyday science lab needs a biohazard sign on its waste disposal containers. We use more than just skull and crossbones because we don’t want to communicate the primitive idea of “death is certain here” because death isn’t certain, it’s a possibility in a list of possibilities. We just associate death with these symbols because it’s the scariest. It’s to tell experts what protocols to perform when dealing with such things, and if injury occurs they will be able to identify the symptoms related to the danger and carry out the appropriate medical procedures. This helps save lives faster when we know what to look for, or prevent it completely with proper handling.
I don’t know anyone that seriously thinks a skull and crossbones means pirates. Sure, if you saw it on a black flag or a triangle hat, then you would think it’s a pirate’s sign, but if you saw it on a wall along with “Danger” then you’d be hard pressed to think of anything else besides hazardous conditions.
To me, it’s less that the Jolly Roger symbol indicates a treasure or some other non threatening thing, but that it doesn’t evoke a sense a danger that for some hazards might be essential. When I see a skull and cross bones I think of danger akin to a bottle of bleach or ammonia-not immediate or something I need to be too careful to avoid, maybe even something I don’t consider avoiding at all because it’s probably not a huge deal. When I see a biohazard symbol, I don’t need to know what it is or where it is or how immediately dangerous it is, I just avoid it because it’s been ingrained in me to regard it as something hazardous to even be close to
Keep using the skull and bones. It doesn’t matter if it loses meaning, the people who die will serve as a warning to the ones that are alive to not mess with bones. “Oh cool! A pirate buried his treasure here” dies Survivors: Better not mess with bones. If they need to be remembered the hard way every 5-6 generations, so be it.
5:30 Also, anything that is foreboding or scary will attract explorers for that very reason. They would see it as something protective that is inside the site. And if it is something others wanted to protect, there would have to be a good reason to protect it. I doubt very much that they would ever think the obscures where there for their own protection. They would thing it was there to protect whatever was inside. We should also keep in mind, the people seeing this in 10000 years may not even be human.
Oh my god. This setting would make for an amazing post-apocalyptic article game. Imagine a team of people exploring the land of the forgotten, ransacking buildings for resources and coming upon a place like this. Those spikes protruding from the buildings may be interpreted as danger, but perhaps just as equally as interesting, making the player want to explore and understand it even more. What if they entered the building, slowly learning about its dangers before an ultimate twist in which they learn the products they’ve been touching are incredibly fatal. Damn just wanted to get this out.
I remember my dad telling me about this when I was really little. I’m talking crazy young. I don’t know how I still remember it. He said that if we left warnings communicating “dont go here. You will die horribly if you do” future people would ignore them. After all, the pyramids have all sorts of warnings and curses in them, and we’ve still looted those. Future archeologists would assume this is no different.
I’m pretty sure if you saw an official looking sign with the skull and crossbones on it, you’d still understand that it means “danger of death”. Look at the Star of David. It’s also pretty meaningless. I mean, it’s just a six pointed star. The meaning of symbols can be totally arbitrary but still be incredibly memorable for centuries.
Yeah, kinda unavoidable. To make it stand the test of time, we make it part of our culture, but in doing so we morph it with every iteration. The bio-hazard symbol isn’t too old currently, but many kids these days associate it with fictional zombies more so than they do infectious substances. Welp. :T
“just start a new religion and bio-engineer cats which DEFINITELY will both survive any possible apocalypse. This is a good and reasonable cost-to-benefit solution to the problem of “how do I prevent a hunter-gatherer 7000 years from developing cancer if he decides to take our nuclear waste”” It’s a cool idea but just like utterly useless
Not sure about the skull symbol losing it’s effect. People may not be automatically scared by it nowadays, but it’s all about context. Thousands of years from now, if there are still humans around, the skull will most certainly have a warning effect no matter how primitive or advanced are the people that see it. You only need some basic anatomy knowledge or seen the remains of other humans to realize you are in a bad place.
I think there’s a relatively straightforward solution to this. Use the three panel picture format, but add a fourth panel to show the guy lying down as a skeleton so it’s obvious he’s dead and not just sleeping. It would also be extremely important to show the passage of time in the case of radiation, because its affects are not immediately obvious even directly touching extremely radioactive objects. So maybe have the first panel take place in the day time, and the second one add some stars and the moon or whatever to show it takes awhile to get sick. Then you’d want to carve I II III and IIII above the images, respectively, to illustrate the order. It’s unlikely those symbols can be misinterpreted, because even if number symbols changed it’d still be intelligible because it’s using numerical groupings of symbols. Then you can also hedge your bets by arranging the images vertically with I on top, II next, then III and IIII on the bottom. There are cultures that read left to right, right to left, or top to bottom… But I am not aware of any cultures that read from the bottom up, vertically. If they exist, it’d be rare. So there’s much less ambiguity with a vertical orientation. It’s not perfect, but you can say with a high degree of confidence it will do the job.
tbh, if I saw a skull and cross bones I’d assume poison or some other thing which could kill me. I think the skull and cross bones is an incredibly good symbol at conveying its general meaning which is death. If I see a white skull and cross bones on a black square background sticking out of the ground I do not want to be anywhere near there even remotely. Honestly, the symbol scares me in general. :p I think the best most universal way to warn people of danger is to put such a symbol on anything deadly; it’s still useful to put the other warning symbols as well (such as the biohazard or radioactive symbol) so people know what the threat is, but I think by having the skull and cross bones it communicates EXTREMELY well that this is dangerous and will cause death.
This scenario reminds me this interview with a mountain climber in the early 20th century who was planning on climbing Mt. Everest (this was before anybody had reached the top and made it back down alive) and they asked him why he wanted to do such a dangerous thing and his response was “Because it’s there.”
Hold up. the reason why the jolly rodger lost its meaning is because, the threat is no longer there, and can be used in a non- serious way. Radiation and nuclear hazards however, probably aren’t going to be the same in the future, and if the symbols can then be used in the same way as the jolly rodger, then the threat must be gone. We don’t have a lot to worry about.
Does no one else think it’s a false equivalent to compare the next 10,000 years to the last 10,000 years? You’re comparing the very start of recorded human history to the Information Era. Dude is a physicist, I’m sure he wouldn’t agree with the notion “it took millions of years to discover other planets, so what makes you think we can find more anytime soon?” Uhh, because as time progresses, humans innovate, but it through recording/distributing information or finding new ways to discover new information.
Only in a society completely insulated from death would a skull and crossbones not convey a message of danger. In any situation where a site like this would be without guards, without signage, and without a common language (e.g. a postapocalyptic society), human bones would be clearly understood as a warning of danger and death.
I read somewhere that in scandinavia they decided to not put any logo or sign above their nuclear waste and just covering it up, because the chance of digging it up would be much lower then, because if there is a sign that people wouldnt understand in a few 1000 years, they would probably see if there is something buried there (like the case with the pirate logo being though of being for treasure sometimes)
A lot of those proposed solutions like the spikes or the glowing cats can be ruled out just by thinking about kids. Imagine being a kid or teen a couple hundred years from now and hearing about these massive spikes coming from the ground. Obviously you’d want to go there 😭 Same with the cats, like of course kids would want to make some cat glow its just how kids are 💀
Seems like most people in the comments don’t get the “skull and crossbones” part. It’s a bad symbol to use for a couple of reasons but mainly: – It is used heavily in pop culture (Halloween, Pirates, Metal/Punk imagery, etc) – It has been used historically with different meanings (Prussian Cavalry, SS Divisions, Pirates, Landmines, etc) – It is only from our popular culture and history that we associate it with death. Take an alien or someone from North Sentinel Island and they probably won’t interpret it the same as we do. It’s just a meaningless skull and two bones.
The Jolly Roger is only scary if it’s done right. The more realistic the skull image, the scarier it gets. It also matters where it’s placed. On a hat, pirates and treasure. On a door or a sign, GET OUT. Although, something about the biohazard symbol really is scary. But the nuclear symbol just seems kinda bland.
Right. Nuclear Priesthood and Glowing Cats. I’d say stick to the current symbols because they’re already constantly being reinforced culturally anyways. Skull and Crossbones has been used effectively for hundreds of years. There’s no reason to think it won’t continue on for hundreds or even thousands of years as a symbol of danger. Really weak argument against it’s use, because of some hypothetical Disneyland effect.
What if the pyramids were made for the same reason. “You were supposed to notice it, but you weren’t supposed to go there”. Catch your attention, but not draw you in. Especially when I imagine, if we build structures that last 10,000 years, people at that time might try to dig up these sites as archaeological research, like we do.
Sorry but skull and crossbones still seem like the ‘best’ possible symbol if your trying to convey danger to random cultures far in the future. Immediately there is a negative connotation of death to anyone who knows what a human skull looks like or at least bones. Otherwise any depiction of death like a corpse, bones, etc would probably do. I mean random spikes? When I saw it, it really did not convey danger to me nor did I associate it with anything negative. I mean I’d imagine that if a random person saw it they’d be even more intrigued than anything else.
I guess nuclear waste is the only hazard that would stick around for THAT long. Seeing how curious we humans are, the only real solution might be to keep using the current trefoil icon as the warning signage but also design future long term storage facilities to realize the possibility that once in a great while some future explorers may have to find out “the hard way.” Those explorers (or their survivors) will re-learn the icon’s meaning pretty quick. A better approach might be to contain the waste in a bunch of thick, rugged, chemically inert casks (something like ceramic) and drop them in a specially designated ocean area that is extra deep. If they are forgotten, any future society with the technology to discover and raise some of those casks will nearly certainly also have the technology to detect any lingering radiological danger.
Trying to tell future generations to stay away isn’t always going to guarantee success. Just look at ourselves, we as a species don’t like being told what to do. Even if we weren’t planning on doing something, the moment someone says “don’t”, we have the urge to disobey them and exercise our own freedom even if we originally didn’t intend to. As someone once said, Adam and Eve did not eat the forbidden fruit because of the fruit’s sake. They ate it because it was forbidden
Interesting article, but it seems clear to me that the simple cartoon showing cause and effect was the best idea, their reasons for not going with that were REALLY weak – “It assumes the reader will read left to right, that they’d understand causality between frames, and that the cartoons would stand the test of time” Regarding point one, make the 1st frame larger, and the last frame smaller to communicate that it’s first in the sequence – perspective of distance is a universal concept, and even the stupidest adult would be able to relate that to distance travelled in time. Besides, when someone finds hieroglyphics that are thousands of years old, it’s not like they make any quick assumptions, they study them and figure out the sequence (left to right/up to down etc.) As for point two, the idea that a person may not understand causality between frames is absurd – it’s a really well-designed cartoon, and any being with a modicum of intelligence would understand – humans have been drawing sequential images to tell a story for well over 10,000 years (think cave paintings). I don’t think we have to worry about that going out of style any time soon. Point three -would they stand the test of time – just engrave it into gold plates or something… this point could apply to literally any solution found – they’re just grasping at straws.
Why not put a universal symbol for death and foreboding? Why not put a MASSIVE sculpture of a screaming skull surrounded by the iron thorns (maybe even string razor wire between the thorns to really drive the message home)? Not a jolly roger, not an abstract symbol, but a giant human skull locked in an eternal scream. Sure, there’ll always be “that one village idiot” who goes right up to the skull, but he’ll die. He will die painfully and agonizingly slow from one of the most gruesome and horrific deaths known to mankind; extreme radiation poisoning. Surely someone in the nearby village, city, whatever would put two and two together. Yes people will die, but at least they might get the hint. This place belongs to the dead.
The biggest problem is misappropriation. Idiots getting biohazard tattoos because it’s “cool”. article games showing the radiation symbol to show no-go zones that the character enters anyway to get points also doesn’t help. Making it illegal to use for anything other than “official” use will only encourage the idiots. It’s my hope that the human race will continue to advance for the next 10,000 years, therefore, we as a society don’t lose memory of the locations. Better yet, my hope is our technology increases and we can clean up our own messes.
If you want to scare away any animal you hang up a dead one of it’s own kind to scare it away. Doing the same with symbols of humans should do the same for the rest of time . Hence I agree with the rest on scull and cross bones being pretty safe bet. To be safe I would hang mannequins around the entrance to be sure. Let the big wigs talk about another problem.
I’ve always favored the theory of “bury it deep somewhere boring”. Find a place with no rocks of interest. No fossil fuels or minerals. No tectonics nearby. Dig a big hole and then cap it. And walk away. No mystery. No warnings. Just an empty stretch of desert where no one is likely to dig. Human curiosity is frankly the biggest danger here, so just make the site as unimportant looking as possible. And beyond that, all you can do is hope. But instead of the odds being that someone will dig somewhere cool, they’ll be that someone will dig somewhere random.
The biggest part of this problem is probably 2000+ years out, where humans might not be the only players involved, or humans have been set back massively to what we’d call prehistoric times after some catastrophe. The site also plans to contain a big above-ground information center temple-looking structure full of information that current humans understand, diagrams of the waste storage, etc., presented like frescoes.
Fascinating. It’s weird to think though that the most powerful entities in existence are contemplating their own demise and further that they imagine they will go out gradually with a grace to prepare for their absence. We often imagine far more violent and catastrophic winding down of civilizations… the less poisoned we leave the Earth the less we have to prepare a future that has to live in the gaps between poison.
If you study anything related to chemistry this Symbol still means Death and Poison and even if it‘s not exactly feared, you wouldn‘t really wanna touch or drink the stuff either But why worry about a possible change of the meaningof a symbol, if you can simply add language to put that Symbol into context? A simple „Warning!”, „Danger!” or „Biohazard” next to the symbol pretty much explains it‘s meaning quite clear, which A) shows the reader the meaning of that symbol for future contact he has with it and B) prevents the reader from misinterpreting it, since those simple words are i‘d say less likely to change their meaning anytime soon, since it‘s universally important to be able to clearly express „Danger” in our Language.