Plutonium a Wartime Nightmare but a Metallurgist’S Dream

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Plutonium a Wartime Nightmare but a Metallurgist’S Dream Plutonium A Wartime Nightmare but a Metallurgist’s Dream by Richard D. Baker, Siegfried S. Hecker, and Delbert R. Harbur n 1942 the theoretical outline for an Research from 1943 to 1946 electron-volt deuterons in the cyclotron at atomic bomb was clear: compress Berkeley. Within about a month it was enough fissionable material long The Los Alamos work on plutonium and shown that plutonium-239 fissioned when I enough to properly ignite a chain enriched uranium, the so-called special nu- bombarded with slow neutrons, and a de- reaction. Construction of an actual weapon, clear materials, was extensive, covering a cision was made to build large reactors at however, required translation of “fissionable variety of research problems ranging from Hanford for the production of pluto- material” into real pieces of plutonium or purification of material received from reac- nium—this before the uranium-graphite pile uranium metal. These metals had to be free tors to the prevention of oxidation of the at Chicago had demonstrated that a sus- of impurities that would adversely affect the final product. Further, because many chemi- tained and controlled chain reaction was neutron flux during the chain reaction and cal processes and physics experiments re- even possible! That demonstration soon fol- yet be fabricable enough that precise shapes quired very pure materials, such as gold, lowed, proving that large quantities of pluto- could be formed. Whether this would even be beryllium oxide, graphite, and many plastics, nium could be produced, although no pluto- possible with plutonium was not then known, considerable general materials research was nium was extracted from the Chicago reac- however, because plutonium was a new, also carried out. tor. manmade element and the metal had not Much of the chemistry and metallurgy of At this point only microgram amounts of been produced. uranium was already known from the pro- plutonium had been separated from the Accounts of the Manhattan Project have duction of uranium metal for the uranium- targets used in the cyclotrons. Remarkably, neglected (for security reasons, initially) the graphite reactor pile at Chicago in 1942. The the basic chemistry of plutonium was important metallurgical work that preceded work remaining on enriched uranium in- worked out at Berkeley and Chicago on this fabrication of these materials into integral cluded preparation of high-purity metal, fab- microgram scale, and it formed the basis for parts of real weapons. For example, the rication of components, and recycling of the scale-up—by a factor of a billion— Smyth Report* devotes one short paragraph residues. However, the most challenging re- needed for plants that would eventually to the wartime work of the entire Chemistry search and development was carried out on separate plutonium from spent reactor fuel. and Metallurgy Division at Los Alamos—a the new element plutonium. At the same time the first micrograms of the division that in 1945 numbered 400 scientists Table I gives the important dates in the metal were produced at Chicago by the and technicians. Our article will attempt to early history of plutonium and shows the fill part of this gap for plutonium by high- short time—four years—that elapsed be- *Henry DeWolf Smyth, Atomic Energy for Mili- lighting key developments of the wartime tween its discovery and its use in the first tary Purposes: The Official Report on the Devel- research and will continue with some of the atomic device at Trinity. The discovery oc- opment of the Atomic Bomb under the Auspices of the United States Government, 1940-1945 exciting research that has occurred since the curred, as predicted by nuclear theory, when (Princeton University Press, Princeton, 1945), war. uranium was bombarded with 16-million- pp. 221-222. 142 Winter/Spring 1983 LOS ALAMOS SCIENCE TABLE I EARLY HISTORY OF PLUTONIUM reduction of fluorides, and preliminary Plutonium discovered February 23,1941 metallurgical properties were determined. Neutron-induced fission of plutonium-239, proved March 25, 1941 However, the influence of impurities on such Decision reached for large, full-scale plutonium production December 6, 1941 First controlled fission chain reaction achieved, December 2, 1942 tiny samples distorted many of the results; proving method for full-scale production of plutonium for example, the melting point of plutonium Preparation of plutonium metal from microgram November, 1943 was first thought to be about 1800 degrees quantities produced with cyclotron Gram quantities of plutonium nitrate from March, 1944 Celsius, considerably above the true melting experimental reactor received at Los Alamos point of 641 degrees. Ultimately, the Plutonium nitrate from production reactor received mid 1944 properties of plutonium were found to be at Los Alamos Plutonium weapon demonstrated with Trinity test July 15, 1945 incredibly sensitive to impurities. It had been agreed that Los Alamos would not work on batches of plutonium of less than about 1 gram, and the microgram-scale extensive effort to obtain pure and nonreac- work continued at Chicago. Finally, in early tive refractories to contain molten phuto- 1944 Los Alamos received plutonium nitrate nium. The high purity requirements also samples containing half-gram amounts of the necessitated the development of new meth- element from the “Clinton” reactor and pilot ods for analysis of all materials, including extraction plant at Oak Ridge. Later, larger plutonium. amounts were received from the production The potential health problem associated facility at Hanford. with the handling of plutonium had been The plutonium nitrate arrived in relatively recognized at Chicago, and work on the impure form, and techniques and equipment subject began with receipt of the first small had to be developed for a number of amounts of plutonium. A Health Group was processes, including purification, preparation formed to monitor plutonium work areas, of plutonium tetrafluoride and other com- and, within the Chemistry and Metallurgy pounds, reduction to metal, and metal fabri- Division itself, committees were established cation. Also, because plutonium was in very to design suitable radiation detectors and short supply, it was imperative to develop apparatus for handling plutonium and to processes to recycle all residues. formulate safe handling procedures. Because Initially, the purity requirements for the alpha counters then lacked either sensitivity metal were very stringent because some or portability and were in short supply, oiled elements, if present, would emit neutrons filter paper was swiped over surfaces to pick upon absorbing alpha particles from the up possible stray bits of plutonium and then radioactive plutonium, These extra neutrons measured at stationary counters. Similar were undesirable in the gun-type plutonium procedures were used to detect suspected weapon then envisioned: they would initiate contamination of hands and nostrils. The air- a chain reaction before the material had conditioning system in the plutonium labora- properly assembled into its supercritical con- tory (D Building), which was installed in- figuration, and this “pre-initiation” would itially to help maintain high purity by filter- decrease the explosive force of the weapon. ing out dust, ultimately served the more Two early discs of plutonium metal after The purity requirement for certain elements important function of confining the pluto- reduction from the tetrafluoride. Pluto- was a few parts per million and for some, nium. The building was equipped with hoods nium generally arrived at the Labora- less than one part per million. As a result, all with minimal ventilation and with the fore- tory from the Hanford reactors in the the materials used in the preparation of the runner of the modern glove box—plywood form of a relatively impure nitrate solu- plutonium metal, everything from the proc- “dry boxes.” The successful handling of tion. Techniques were developed at Los ess chemicals to the containers, had to be of large quantities of plutonium without serious Alamos for purification, preparation of very high purity. This necessitated develop- problems was at that time an outstanding various compounds, reduction to the ment work on many materials, including an achievement. metal, and metal fabrication. LOS ALAMOS SCIENCE Winter/Spring 1983 143 At first plutonium metal was prepared at Los Alamos either by lithium reduction of plutonium tetrafluoride in a centrifuge, the metal settling out as the closed reaction vessel rotated, or by the electrolysis of fused salts containing plutonium. Soon, however, calcium reduction of the tetrafluoride was perfected. The vessel used to contain this reaction was called a stationary “bomb” because the reaction was highly exothermic and the metal product settled out in the closed, nonrotating vessel simply by gravity. This technique became the preferred method and was used to prepare plutonium for almost all metallurgical studies and for the nuclear devices. The microgram metallurgy at Chicago had provided values for the density of the metal that clustered about either 16 or 20 grams per cubic centimeter. This bimodal spread, due surely in part to impurities, nevertheless pointed toward interesting metallurgy by hinting that the element had more than one phase. Working with larger amounts, Los Alamos refined these measure- ments and by the middle of 1944 had discovered that plutonium was a nightmare: no less than five allotropic phases existed between room temperature
Recommended publications
  • Meet the 2021 TMS Award Recipients
    FEBRUARY 2021 jom.tms.org JAn officialO publication of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE: Meet the 2021 TMS Award Recipients Empowering Metallurgists, Process Engineers and Researchers Do you rely on handbook data? What if the materials data you need doesn’t exist? With Thermo-Calc you can: Calculate phase-based proper�es as a func�on of Base Decisions on scien�fically supported composi�on, temperature and �me models Fill in data gaps without resor�ng to costly, Accelerate materials development while �me-consuming experiments reducing risk Predict how actual vs nominal chemistries will affect Troubleshoot issues during materials processing property data Over 40 Thermodynamic and Kine�c Databases Choose from an extensive selec�on of thermodynamic and mobility databases in a range of materials, including: Steel and Fe-Alloys Nickel High Entropy Alloys 70 1000 Lath Total # of Alloys - 1032 1500 Plate RMS - 28.3 60 800 Epsilon 1450 Failure 50 1400 600 1350 40 400 1300 Calculated Ms [K]Calculated 30 200 Frequency 1250 20 Celsius Temperature, 1200 0 10 1150 1100 0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1240 1245 1250 1255 1260 1265 1270 1275 1280 1285 0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 Experimental Ms [K] Solidus temperature (°C) Mole Frac�on Al Comparison of calculated and experimental Varia�on in solidus temperature over 1000 Calculated phase diagram along the Ms temperatures for a wide range of steels composi�ons within alloy 718 specifica�on composi�on line of CoCrFeNi-Al Al Alloys Ti and TiAl Alloys Oxides 2.5 SiO2 Ti-6Al-4V [IMI] 1.0 [1961Wil] [1962McG] 0.9 2.0 Two Liq.
    [Show full text]
  • Bull. Hist. Chem. 4
    ll. t. Ch. 4 (8 2 Cpnd", . Krt., 2, 6, 848 (p.42 Grn. S l: K. THE HISTORY OF THE DEXTER AWARD jn, "r f lrt nd Mtl lrztn f In n th Mll f All lrd, SrO, nd O", Strtr nd ndn, rt I: h hrd d 6, , 880. K. r nd . , "ttnl Cntnt nd Eltr Aaron J. Ihde, University of Wisconsin pl Mnt f Sd lrd", Cnd. h., 6,4 (, 4646. h nnr f th rd, Mdt rllO (848, 6. ln, tprttn rnn nt t . E. ln, brn n Spn nd pld n prtnt rl n n Mrh 8. dtn n Spnh nvrt. At th l f th Spnh . K. jn, "frtn f In nd Mll d Upn Cvl Wr, h fld Spn nd trtd n rr n Mx, frttr t", . h, 28, 0, 6 nd . hr h flt br f th tnl lthn Eltrh., 28, 4, 0220. (th n Grn Inttt n Mx Ct. Althh h hd bn ntrtd n 8. A. E. vn Arl nd . d r, Chh ndn l htr f htr hl tll n Spn, tht ntrt flrd Elrrtth Erhnn, rzl, pz, . h txtb n Mx, hr h d xtnv td f th htr f br tn t jn pt n Erpn txt f tht d tllr n Clnl tn Ar. pblhd nr rfrn t h r tnbr th t n thr r. ppr n htr f hrntr nd f tllr nd . K. jn nd W. rnnbr, "Infln f Adrbd In th thr f vrl r n tnArn tllr. n th hthl Sntvn f Slvr rd", .
    [Show full text]
  • Copyright by Paul Harold Rubinson 2008
    Copyright by Paul Harold Rubinson 2008 The Dissertation Committee for Paul Harold Rubinson certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: Containing Science: The U.S. National Security State and Scientists’ Challenge to Nuclear Weapons during the Cold War Committee: —————————————————— Mark A. Lawrence, Supervisor —————————————————— Francis J. Gavin —————————————————— Bruce J. Hunt —————————————————— David M. Oshinsky —————————————————— Michael B. Stoff Containing Science: The U.S. National Security State and Scientists’ Challenge to Nuclear Weapons during the Cold War by Paul Harold Rubinson, B.A.; M.A. Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Austin in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of Texas at Austin August 2008 Acknowledgements Thanks first and foremost to Mark Lawrence for his guidance, support, and enthusiasm throughout this project. It would be impossible to overstate how essential his insight and mentoring have been to this dissertation and my career in general. Just as important has been his camaraderie, which made the researching and writing of this dissertation infinitely more rewarding. Thanks as well to Bruce Hunt for his support. Especially helpful was his incisive feedback, which both encouraged me to think through my ideas more thoroughly, and reined me in when my writing overshot my argument. I offer my sincerest gratitude to the Smith Richardson Foundation and Yale University International Security Studies for the Predoctoral Fellowship that allowed me to do the bulk of the writing of this dissertation. Thanks also to the Brady-Johnson Program in Grand Strategy at Yale University, and John Gaddis and the incomparable Ann Carter-Drier at ISS.
    [Show full text]
  • The Atomic Energy Commission
    The Atomic Energy Commission By Alice Buck July 1983 U.S. Department of Energy Office of Management Office of the Executive Secretariat Office of History and Heritage Resources Introduction Almost a year after World War II ended, Congress established the United States Atomic Energy Commission to foster and control the peacetime development of atomic science and technology. Reflecting America's postwar optimism, Congress declared that atomic energy should be employed not only in the Nation's defense, but also to promote world peace, improve the public welfare, and strengthen free competition in private enterprise. After long months of intensive debate among politicians, military planners and atomic scientists, President Harry S. Truman confirmed the civilian control of atomic energy by signing the Atomic Energy Act on August 1, 1946.(1) The provisions of the new Act bore the imprint of the American plan for international control presented to the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission two months earlier by U.S. Representative Bernard Baruch. Although the Baruch proposal for a multinational corporation to develop the peaceful uses of atomic energy failed to win the necessary Soviet support, the concept of combining development, production, and control in one agency found acceptance in the domestic legislation creating the United States Atomic Energy Commission.(2) Congress gave the new civilian Commission extraordinary power and independence to carry out its awesome responsibilities. Five Commissioners appointed by the President would exercise authority for the operation of the Commission, while a general manager, also appointed by the President, would serve as chief executive officer. To provide the Commission exceptional freedom in hiring scientists and professionals, Commission employees would be exempt from the Civil Service system.
    [Show full text]
  • An Exploration of Georgius Agricola's Natural Philosophy in De Re Metallica
    Mining Metals, Mining Minds: An Exploration of Georgius Agricola’s Natural Philosophy in De re metallica (1556) By Hillary Taylor Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Vanderbilt University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in History January 31, 2021 Nashville, Tennessee Approved: William Caferro, Ph.D. Lauren R. Clay, Ph.D. Laura Stark, Ph.D. Elsa Filosa, Ph.D. Francesca Trivellato, Ph.D. For my parents, Jim and Lisa ii Acknowledgements I have benefitted from the generosity of many individuals in my odyssey to complete this dissertation. My sincerest thanks go to Professor William Caferro who showed me how to call up documents at the Archivio di Stato in Florence, taught me Italian paleography, read each chapter, and provided thoughtful feedback. It has been a blessing working closely with a scholar who is as great as he is at doing history. I have certainly learned by his example, watching as he spends his own time reading, translating, writing, and editing. I have attempted to emulate his productivity, and I know that I would not have finished the ultimate academic enterprise without his guidance. Professor Caferro pruned my prose without bruising my ego, too badly. I must also extend my warmest thanks to the other members of my committee, Professor Lauren Clay, Professor Laura Stark, Professor Elsa Filosa, and Professor Francesca Trivellato. I am also grateful to Professor Monique O’Connell, my undergraduate advisor at Wake Forest University. Monique was the first to introduce me to the historiographical complexities of Italian history and intellectual thought.
    [Show full text]
  • AWARDS ANNUAL MEETING Milano 24-27 October
    2019 SOCIETY FOR THE HISTORY OF TECHNOLOGY AWARDS ANNUAL MEETING milano 24-27 october www.historyoftechnology.org In 2020 the SHOT Annual Meeting takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana (USA), 7-11 October. CONTENTS Society for the History of Technology. 2 2019 Prize Committees .................................................... 3 2019 Awards and Fellowships ............................................... 9 Awards, Grants and Fellowships Special Interest Groups .......................... 22 Previous winners .......................................................... 25 SOCIETY FOR THE HISTORY OF TECHNOLOGY President Tom Misa University of Minnesota Vice President Arwen Mohun University of Delaware Secretary Jan Korsten Foundation for the History of Technology Treasurer Amy Bix Iowa State University Editor-in-Chief Suzanne Moon University of Oklahoma 2 SHOT Awards 2019 2019 PRIZE COMMITTEES Leonardo da Vinci Medal The highest recognition from the Society for the History of Technology is the Leonardo da Vinci Medal, presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the history of technology, through research, teaching, publication, and other activities. Andras Beck (formerly of the Hungarian Academy of Arts) designed the medal, the face of which shows Leonardo’s head modeled after the artist’s self-portrait. The reverse design shows (in the words of the sculptor) “the basic sources of energy: water, wind, and fire.” A certificate accompanies the medal. John Krige (Chair), Georgia Institute of Technology Jennifer Alexander,
    [Show full text]
  • Rethinking Antiparticles. Hermann Weyl's Contribution to Neutrino Physics
    Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 61 (2018) 68e79 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/shpsb Rethinking antiparticles. Hermann Weyl’s contribution to neutrino physics Silvia De Bianchi Department of Philosophy, Building B - Campus UAB, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona 08193, Bellaterra Barcelona, Spain article info abstract Article history: This paper focuses on Hermann Weyl’s two-component theory and frames it within the early devel- Received 18 February 2016 opment of different theories of spinors and the history of the discovery of parity violation in weak in- Received in revised form teractions. In order to show the implications of Weyl’s theory, the paper discusses the case study of Ettore 29 March 2017 Majorana’s symmetric theory of electron and positron (1937), as well as its role in inspiring Case’s Accepted 31 March 2017 formulation of parity violation for massive neutrinos in 1957. In doing so, this paper clarifies the rele- Available online 9 May 2017 vance of Weyl’s and Majorana’s theories for the foundations of neutrino physics and emphasizes which conceptual aspects of Weyl’s approach led to Lee’s and Yang’s works on neutrino physics and to the Keywords: “ ” Weyl solution of the theta-tau puzzle in 1957. This contribution thus sheds a light on the alleged re-discovery ’ ’ Majorana of Weyl s and Majorana s theories in 1957, by showing that this did not happen all of a sudden. On the two-component theory contrary, the scientific community was well versed in applying these theories in the 1950s on the ground neutrino physics of previous studies that involved important actors in both Europe and United States.
    [Show full text]
  • Awards Dinner
    Awards Dinner TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 HILTON SALT LAKE CITY CENTER SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH RECEPTION – 6:15 P.M. DINNER – 7:00 P.M. PRESIDENT’S RECEPTION – 9:30 P.M. 9639 KINSMAN ROAD | MATERIALS PARK, OHIO 44073 WWW.ASMINTERNATIONAL.ORG ASM2016_Awards_Dinner_Covers_Spreads.indd MS&T Dinner Covers_Paint.indd 2 1 9/29/2016 11:10:21 AM ASM MS&T Dinner Covers_Paint.indd 3 9/29/201610/4/2016 11:10:21 3:03:31 AM PM Nominations are now being accepted for the following awards Award Annual Nomination Deadline Would you like to change Fellow ASM November 30 Edward DeMille Campbell Memorial Lecture February 1 the future? ASM/TMS Distinguished Lecture in Materials & Society September 1 Distinguished Life Member February 1 Become an ASM Foundation champion. William Hunt Eisenman Award February 1 Engineering Materials Achievement Awards March 1 Get involved! Gold Medal February 1 Historical Landmarks February 1 Honorary Membership February 1 Volunteering couldn’t be easier! Contact us at [email protected] Medal for the Advancement of Research February 1 Allan Ray Putnam Service Award February 1 You can make a di erence and inspire students to become Albert Sauveur Achievement Award February 1 the materials pioneers of the future. Your generous donations, Bradley Stoughton Award for Young Teachers March 1 whether monetary or in-kind, help us further our mission. Albert Easton White Distinguished Teacher Award February 1 Make your donation by texting (888) 630-6063. J. Willard Gibbs Phase Equilibria Award February 1 The Silver Medal Award February 1 The Bronze Medal Award February 1 Links to Nomination requests and rules can be found at www.asminternational.org Click on Membership & Committees—then www.asmfoundation.org Awards & Nominations 2016_Awards_Dinner_Covers_Spreads.indd 2 10/4/2016 3:03:31 PM CONTENTS Officers of ASM International .....................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 03/Post/Final Pass
    “A Very Special Relationship” SHOT and the Smithsonian’s Museum of History and Technology ROBERT C. POST Synergism: Cooperative action of discrete agencies . such that the total effect is greater than the sum of the two or more effects taken independently. —Webster’s Third New International Dictionary Friday, 23 May 1958, a fair spring day in Cleveland. The Plain Dealer head- lined the accidental explosion of eight Nike missiles at Middletown, New Jersey, with a death toll of seven or more. Editorially it lamented “Soviet Russia’s present leadership in the field of rocketry,”and a news item quoted a man identified as “America’s chief tracer of unidentified flying objects” on the danger of withholding UFO information from the public: “Russia might claim flying saucers as a propaganda ‘secret weapon’ at any time.” There was a story on the impending demise of the three-cent stamp, and Dr. Post held various jobs at the National Museum of History and Technology/Museum of American History from 1971 to 1996. From 1974 to 1978 he was special assistant to Brooke Hindle, to whose memory he dedicates this article with gratitude for friendship and support, and, not least, for the title. Post writes: “For help with my research, thanks to Bruce Kirby and LaNina Clayton at the Smithsonian Institution Archives and Rob Harding and John Fleckner at the Archives Center, National Museum of American History, intrepid guardians of the SHOT legacy. Thanks also for guidance, support, or criticism to Ron Becker, Silvio Bedini, Barney Finn, Robert Friedel, Morrell and Barbara Heald, Ben Lawless, Miriam Levin, Art Molella, Bob Multhauf, Alex Roland, Joe Schultz, Bruce Seely, John Staudenmaier, Carlene Stephens, Jeffrey Stine, Eugene Uyeki, Robert Vogel, Jack White, Rosalind Williams, and especially to Dian Post.
    [Show full text]
  • Cyril Stanley Smith (1903–1992)
    Cyril Stanley Smith (1903–1992) Cyril Stanley Smith was born on October 4, 1903, in Birmingham, England. He received the B.Sc. de- gree in metallurgy from the University of Birmingham in 1924 and came to the United States that same year. He earned the Sc.D. degree from Massachu- setts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1926. During 1926–1927 he was a research associate at MIT. “From 1927 until 1942 he was a research metallurgist at the American Brass Company, where he received some 20 U.S. patents and contributed numerous pa- pers to technical publications. His early research was focused on electrical and thermal conductivity, and mechanical and magnetic properties of copper al- loys.” “After brief service with the War Metallurgy Com- mittee in Washington in 1943, Smith joined the Man- hattan Project in Los Alamos where he directed the preparation of the fissionable metal for the atomic bomb and other materials for nuclear experiments (1943–1946). In 1946, he received the Presidential Medal for Merit for this work.” “He joined the University of Chicago in 1946 where he became the founder and first director of the Institute for the Study of Metals, the first interdisciplinary research organization dealing with materials in the United States. It was, he said, ‘a natural outgrowth of the close association of metallurgists with chemists and physicists on the Manhattan Project.’ Smith was appointed by President Truman as one of the original nine members of the general advisory committee to the Atomic Energy Commission. He also served on the Committee on Science and Public Policy of the National Academy of Sciences, the President's Science Advisory Committee and the Smith- sonian Council.” Smith left Chicago in 1961 to become Institute Professor at MIT.
    [Show full text]
  • History of Science Society
    ISSN 0739-4934 NEWSLETTER HISTORY OFSOENCE VOLUMEOCTOBER- 121983 NUM- · BER- 4 __L_____ SOCIETY - WELCOME TO BURNDY HSS .EXECUTIVE BY GERALD HOLTON COMMrrrEE ON 27 OC10BER, THE SOCIETY returns to the Bumdy Library in Norwalk, Connecticut. Those who were there at the 1974 Annual Meeting will remember PRESIDENT that it is just the right place for the more intimate get-together which we need GERALD HOLIDN, Harvard University from time to time, away from the centrifugal forces of big cities or joint meetings. VICE-PRESIDENT For a few days, the Invisible College will become visible. It is on such occasions EDWARD GRANT, Indiana University that you hear new ideas presented for the first time, find a sounding board to SECRETARY respond to your experimental thoughts, and make friendships on which scholarly AUDREY DAVIS, Smithsonian Institution collaboration may depend. Here our predominantly young membership can meet TREASURER the generation that put the field on the map in hard strugglei and here the SEYMOUR H. MAUSKOPF, Duke University established members can discover young talent. EDITOR The 1983 program has been put together by Frederick Gregory and Robert ARNOLD THACKRAY, University of Hatch of the University of Florida, under the Committee on Meetings and Pennsylvania Programs, headed by Phillip Sloan. I think it is irresistiblei surely the fruit of enormous labor, but a worthy showcase as the Society enters its sixtieth year. There are many new features; including special sessions that reach out to The History of Science Society was founded in audiences and members our Society is trying to bring in more vigorously-on 1924 to secure the future of Isis, the international Science and Industry, on the History of Biology in the Modem Period, on Women review that George Sarton (1884-1956) had founded in Belgium in 1912.
    [Show full text]
  • Nuclear Others Being Nuclear: Africans and the Global Uranium Trade by Gabrielle Hecht Review By: Alex Wellerstein Historical Studies in the Natural Sciences, Vol
    Nuclear Others Being Nuclear: Africans and the Global Uranium Trade by Gabrielle Hecht Review by: Alex Wellerstein Historical Studies in the Natural Sciences, Vol. 42, No. 3 (June 2012), pp. 235-243 Published by: University of California Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/hsns.2012.42.3.235 . Accessed: 02/08/2012 17:52 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. University of California Press is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Historical Studies in the Natural Sciences. http://www.jstor.org Nuclear Others BY ALEX WELLERSTEIN* GABRIELLE HECHT. Being Nuclear: Africans and the Global Uranium Trade. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2012. xx + 451 pp., illus., maps, index. ISBN 978-0-262-01726-1. $29.95 (hardcover). Nuclear history, as a field, came of age in the late and post–Cold War. Part of this fact is definitional: the line between “history” and “policy” takes some time to manifest and solidify, generally speaking. But some of this formation, per- haps most of it, came from the revelation of new sources—although historians are usually quick to point out that new history is typically the result of new interpretations, not new documents.
    [Show full text]