Does It Glow In The Dark?

In the nuclear-obsessed 1940s, when atomic energy symbolized progress and modernity, one cereal company decided to ride the wave—though not in the safest way. In 1947, Kix cereal launched a daring promotion: for just 15 cents and a cereal box top, children could receive the Lone Ranger Atomic Bomb Ring.

The ring wasn’t just a toy. It contained a tiny sample of polonium-210, a radioactive isotope (substance), within a spinthariscope, allowing users to observe flashes of light caused by alpha particles. The ring featured a “magic viewing chamber” with a zinc sulfide screen that glowed when struck by alpha particles emitted by the polonium.  As long as it wasn’t inhaled or ingested, it was considered “safe” but polonium-210 is one of the most toxic substances known to science.

The ring's design also featured a red plastic tail fin that served as a secret message compartment. These rings are now considered collector's items and museum curiosities, representing a unique aspect of the post-WWII fascination with the atomic age. 

While advertised as "perfectly safe" at the time, the inclusion of radioactive material in a children's toy would not be permitted under modern safety standards. Despite the risks, few raised concerns at the time. Atomic fascination had taken hold of the public imagination, often at the expense of safety. Today, the ring is a bizarre museum relic—an eerie reminder of an era when radiation was marketed as a wonder, and no one questioned giving it to kids.