Scram as the original and mostly likely accurate basis for the use of scram in the technical context. A persistent alternative explanation posits that scram is an acronym for 'safety control rod axe man', which was supposedly coined by Enrico Fermi when the world's first nuclear reactor was built under the spectator seating at the University of Chicago's Stagg Field. It could also stand for "Safety Control Rods Activation Mechanism" or "Control Rods Actuator Mechanism". Both of these are probably backronyms from the original, non-technical usage. In any reactor, a SCRAM is achieved by inserting large amounts of negative reactivity mass
RA-1 Enrico Fermi RA-1 Enrico Fermi RA-1 Enrico Fermi is a research reactor in Argentina and the first nuclear reactor to be built in that country. Construction started April 1957, with first criticality 17 January 1958. It produced the first medical and industrial radioisotopes made in Argentina, and was used to train staff for the first two nuclear power stations there. It is a pool type, with enriched uranium oxide fuel (20% U-235), light water coolant and moderator, and a graphite reflector. It produces 40 kilowatts of thermal energy at full authorised power. It has been modernised on several occasions, and is currently