From Alchemy to Atomic Bombs PDF Download

Author: Fathi Habashi
Publisher: Sainte Foy, Quebec : Métallurgie Extractive Québec
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 376

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Author: Cathy Cobb
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1489927700
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 475

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he history of chemistry is a story of human endeavor-and as er T ratic as human nature itself. Progress has been made in fits and starts, and it has come from all parts of the globe. Because the scope of this history is considerable (some 100,000 years), it is necessary to impose some order, and we have organized the text around three dis cemible-albeit gross--divisions of time: Part 1 (Chaps. 1-7) covers 100,000 BeE (Before Common Era) to the late 1700s and presents the background of the Chemical Revolution; Part 2 (Chaps. 8-14) covers the late 1700s to World War land presents the Chemical Revolution and its consequences; Part 3 (Chaps. 15-20) covers World War I to 1950 and presents the Quantum Revolution and its consequences and hints at revolutions to come. There have always been two tributaries to the chemical stream: experiment and theory. But systematic experimental methods were not routinely employed until the 1600s-and quantitative theories did not evolve until the 1700s-and it can be argued that modem chernistry as a science did not begin until the Chemical Revolution in the 1700s. xi xii PREFACE We argue however that the first experiments were performed by arti sans and the first theories proposed by philosophers-and that a rev olution can be understood only in terms of what is being revolted against.

Author: Bernard Jaffe
Publisher: Courier Corporation
ISBN: 0486141845
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 384

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Classic popular account of the great chemists Trevisan, Paracelsus, Avogadro, Mendeléeff, the Curies, Thomson, Lavoisier, and others, up to A-bomb research and recent work with subatomic particles. 20 illustrations.

Author: Spencer R. WEART
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 0674044983
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 550

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Our thinking is inhabited by images-images of sometimes curious and overwhelming power. The mushroom cloud, weird rays that can transform the flesh, the twilight world following a nuclear war, the white city of the future, the brilliant but mad scientist who plots to destroy the world-all these images and more relate to nuclear energy, but that is not their only common bond. Decades before the first atom bomb exploded, a web of symbols with surprising linkages was fully formed in the public mind. The strange kinship of these symbols can be traced back, not only to medieval symbolism, but still deeper into experiences common to all of us. This is a disturbing book: it shows that much of what we believe about nuclear energy is not based on facts, but on a complex tangle of imagery suffused with emotions and rooted in the distant past. Nuclear Fear is the first work to explore all the symbolism attached to nuclear bombs, and to civilian nuclear energy as well, employing the powerful tools of history as well as findings from psychology, sociology, and even anthropology. The story runs from the turn of the century to the present day, following the scientists and journalists, the filmmakers and novelists, the officials and politicians of many nations who shaped the way people think about nuclear devices. The author, a historian who also holds a Ph.D. in physics, has been able to separate genuine scientific knowledge about nuclear energy and radiation from the luxuriant mythology that obscures them. In revealing the history of nuclear imagery, Weart conveys the hopeful message that once we understand how this imagery has secretly influenced history and our own thinking, we can move on to a clearer view of the choices that confront our civilization. Table of Contents: Preface Part One: Years of Fantasy, 1902-1938 1. Radioactive Hopes White Cities of the Future Missionaries for Science The Meaning of Transmutation 2. Radioactive Fears Scientific Doomsdays The Dangerous Scientist Scientists and Weapons Debating the Scientist's Role 3. Radium: Elixir or Poison? The Elixir of Life Rays of Life Death Rays Radium as Medicine and Poison 4. The Secret, the Master, and the Monster Smashing Atoms The Fearful Master Monsters and Victims Real Scientists The Situation before Fission Part Two: Confronting Reality, 1939-1952 5. Where Earth and Heaven Meet Imaginary Bomb-Reactors Real Reactors and Safety Questions Planned Massacres "The Second Coming" 6. The News from Hiroshima Cliché Experts Hiroshima Itself Security through Control by Scientists? Security through Control over Scientists? 7. National Defenses Civil Defenses Bombs as a Psychological Weapon The Airmen Part Three: New Hopes and Horrors, 1953-1963 8. Atoms for Peace A Positive Alternative Atomic Propaganda Abroad Atomic Propaganda at Home 9. Good and Bad Atoms Magical Atoms Real Reactors The Core of Mistrust Tainted Authorities 10. The New Blasphemy Bombs as a Violation of Nature Radioactive Monsters Blaming Authorities 11. Death Dust Crusaders against Contamination A Few Facts Clean or Filthy Bombs? 12. The Imagination of Survival Visions of the End Survivors as Savages The Victory of the Victim The Great Thermonuclear Strategy Debate The World as Hiroshima 13. The Politics of Survival The Movement Attacking the Warriors Running for Shelter Cuban Catharsis Reasons for Silence Part Four: Suspect Technology, 1956-1986 14. Fail/Safe Unwanted Explosions: Bombs Unwanted Explosions: Reactors Advertising the Maximum Accident 15. Reactor Poisons and Promises Pollution from Reactors The Public Loses Interest The Nuplex versus the China Syndrome 16. The Debate Explodes The Fight against Antimissiles Sounding the Radiation Alarm Reactors: A Surrogate for Bombs? Environmentalists Step In 17. Energy Choices Alternative Energy Sources Real Reactor Risks "It's Political" The Reactor Wars 18. Civilization or Liberation? The Logic of Authority and Its Enemies Nature versus Culture Modes of Expression The Public's Image of Nuclear Power 19. The War Fear Revival: An Unfinished Chapter Part Five The Search for Renewal 20. The Modern Arcanum Despair and Denial Help from Heaven? Objects in the Skies Mushroom and Mandala 21. Artistic Transmutations The Interior Holocaust Rebirth from Despair Toward the Four-Gated City Conclusion A Personal Note Sources and Methodology Notes Index Reviews of this book: Nuclear Fear is a rich, layered journey back through our 'atomic history' to the primal memories of monstrous mutants and mad scientists. It is a deeply serious book but written in an accessible style that reveals the culture in which this fear emerges only to be suppressed and emerge again. --Ellen Goodman, Boston Globe Reviews of this book: A historical portrait of the quintessential modern nightmare...Weart shows in meticulous and fascinating detail how [the] ancient images of alchemy-fire, sexuality, Armageddon, gold, eternity and all the rest-immediately clustered around the new science of atomic physics...There is no question that the image of nuclear power reflects a complex and deeply disturbing portrait of what it means to be human. --Stephan Salisbury, Philadelphia Inquirer Reviews of this book: A detailed, probing study of American hopes, dreams and insecurities in the twentieth-century. Weart has a poet's acumen for sensing human feelings ... Nuclear Fear remains captivating as history...and original as an anthropological study of how nuclear power, like alchemy in medieval times, offers a convenient symbol for deeply-rooted human feelings. --Los Angeles Times Reviews of this book: Weart's tale boldly sweeps from the futuristic White City of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and the discovery of radioactivity in 1896 through Hiroshima and Star Wars... (An] admirable call for synthesis of art and science in a true transmutation that takes us beyond nuclear fear. --H. Bruce Franklin, Science

Author: Bruce Cameron Reed
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3662581752
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 538

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The development of atomic bombs under the auspices of the U.S. Army’s Manhattan Project during World War II is considered to be the outstanding news story of the twentieth century. In this book, a physicist and expert on the history of the Project presents a comprehensive overview of this momentous achievement. The first three chapters cover the history of nuclear physics from the discovery of radioactivity to the discovery of fission, and would be ideal for instructors of a sophomore-level “Modern Physics” course. Student-level exercises at the ends of the chapters are accompanied by answers. Chapter 7 covers the physics of first-generation fission weapons at a similar level, again accompanied by exercises and answers. For the interested layman and for non-science students and instructors, the book includes extensive qualitative material on the history, organization, implementation, and results of the Manhattan Project and the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing missions. The reader also learns about the legacy of the Project as reflected in the current world stockpiles of nuclear weapons. This second edition contains important revisions and additions, including a new chapter on the German atomic bomb program and new sections on British and Canadian contributions to the Manhattan project and on feed materials. Several other sections have been expanded; reader feedback has been helpful in introducing minor corrections and improved explanations; and, last but not least, the second edition includes a detailed index.

Author: Davis Truman
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Atomic bomb
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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In "The Atomic Alchemist: J. Robert Oppenheimer and the Birth of the Nuclear Age," we embark on a captivating journey through the life and legacy of one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. This meticulously researched and thought-provoking book delves into the fascinating story of Oppenheimer's role in the development of the atomic bomb, the unprecedented power it unleashed, and the profound ethical questions it raised.From Oppenheimer's early years as a brilliant physicist to his pivotal leadership in the Manhattan Project, this book chronicles his journey through creating the underground Los Alamos laboratory, where exceptional minds collaborated under intense pressure to build a weapon of unimaginable destruction. Gain a front-row seat as scientific breakthroughs lead to the splitting of the atom, and the world stands on the precipice of a new era."The Atomic Alchemist" goes beyond scientific advancements and dives deep into the moral dilemmas faced by Oppenheimer. Explore the inner conflicts he grappled with as he confronted the immense power of the atomic bomb and the catastrophic consequences it could bring. Witness the haunting moments of the Trinity test, the first atomic explosion, and the aftermath of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, forever changing the course of history.However, this book is not merely a recounting of past events; it also serves as a timely reflection on the challenges that still resonate in our modern world. It invites readers to contemplate the delicate balance between scientific progress, national security, and the ethical implications of powerful technologies. Through the lens of Oppenheimer's life, we are compelled to examine our responsibilities in shaping humanity's future."The Atomic Alchemist" is an engaging and enlightening exploration of the birth of the nuclear age. It examines Oppenheimer's complex legacy, from his entanglement with political suspicion during the Red Scare to his enduring advocacy for arms control and international cooperation. It serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring questions surrounding the responsible use of science and the quest for a peaceful world.Whether you are a history enthusiast, a science lover, or intrigued by the intersection of ethics and technological advancements, "The Atomic Alchemist" will captivate your imagination. Prepare to be informed and challenged as you navigate the extraordinary life of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the profound impact he had on shaping our modern world.

Author: Mark Morrisson
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190294493
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 272

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Alchemists are generally held to be the quirky forefathers of science, blending occultism with metaphysical pursuits. Although many were intelligent and well-intentioned thinkers, the oft-cited goals of alchemy paint these antiquated experiments as wizardry, not scientific investigation. Whether seeking to produce a miraculous panacea or struggling to transmute lead into gold, the alchemists radical goals held little relevance to consequent scientific pursuits. Thus, the temptation is to view the transition from alchemy to modern science as one that discarded fantastic ideas about philosophers stones and magic potions in exchange for modest yet steady results. It has been less noted, however, that the birth of atomic science actually coincided with an efflorescence of occultism and esoteric religion that attached deep significance to questions about the nature of matter and energy. Mark Morrisson challenges the widespread dismissal of alchemy as a largely insignificant historical footnote to science by prying into the revival of alchemy and its influence on the emerging subatomic sciences of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Morrisson demonstrates its surprising influence on the emerging subatomic sciences of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Specifically, Morrisson examines the resurfacing of occult circles during this time period and how their interest in alchemical tropes had a substantial and traceable impact upon the science of the day. Modern Alchemy chronicles several encounters between occult conceptions of alchemy and the new science, describing how academic chemists, inspired by the alchemy revival, attempted to transmute the elements; to make gold. Examining scientists publications, correspondence, talks, and laboratory notebooks as well as the writings of occultists, alchemical tomes, and science-fiction stories, he argues that during the birth of modern nuclear physics, the trajectories of science and occultism---so often considered antithetical---briefly merged.

Author: A. R. Homer
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781595265036
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 284

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1942. The war hangs in the balance. But Nazi Germany may soon have a weapon to tip the scale. Germany, 1942. When Hitler's leading nuclear physicists hesitate to develop an atom bomb, SS officer Max Heldorf conceives of an ingenious plan. But only one physicist can solve the formidable scientific problems essential for success: Hannah Goldmann, who is facing death in an extermination camp. Denmark, 1942. As Jrgen Srensen's Resistance cell progresses from acts of sabotage to planning one of the most spectacular Resistance operations of World War II - the rescue of all of Denmark's Jews - he realizes there is a traitor in their midst. New York, 1942. The American secret service recruits WAAC Christina Lindgren for intelligence work in Sweden. On a return mission, Christina finds herself trapped with a vital message - and an unknown stranger. And what is the terrible secret of Mrk, a hitherto deserted island halfway between Denmark and Sweden? Only two people outside the island have any idea: Reichminister Albert Speer and Peder, an autistic ten-year-old Danish boy who is unable to tell what he has seen. The Devil's Alchemists interweaves these stories against a backdrop of history as it races to a stunning, unforgettable climax. www.arhomer.com A.R. Homer is the author of The Sobs of Autumn's Violins Winner, 2006 Distinguished Honor Award, Military Writers Society of America "A must read for all lovers of thrillers or World War II novels.." - W.H. McDonald, Jr., 2006 President, Military Writers Society of America www.militarywriters.com Front cover photograph Corbis

Author: Gessner Goodrich Hawley
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Atomic bomb
Languages : en
Pages : 228

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Pandora? -- Havoc -- What is an atom? -- The Greeks had a word for it -- The atomic theory -- Perpetual motion -- The periodic system -- What is a molecule? -- Chemical changes -- How big are molecules? -- How many compounds are there? -- Keeping warm -- The energy in a molecule -- Why fuels burn -- Chemical balance -- Free energy -- A closed corporation -- Where do fuels get their heat? -- How fuels were made -- Petroleum -- Frozen energy -- Rust -- Thermite -- Explosive compounds -- Gas expansion -- The nature of gases -- Mass vs weight -- Potential energy -- Kinetic energy -- Why explosions demolish buildings -- The sun -- Mass-energy transformation -- Inside the atom -- Electrical balance -- Protons -- Neutrons -- Nuclear forces -- Electrons -- Photons -- Electrons vs photons -- Energy -- At Gibson Island -- Isotopes -- Radioactivity -- Natural atomic disintegration -- Gamma rays -- Atom-smashing in the stars -- Artificial transmutation -- Discovery of neutrons -- Mass and energy again -- Modern alchemy -- Deuterons -- Cloud chamber -- A closer look at nuclear disintegration -- Induced radioactivity -- Uses of radioactive isotopes -- The cyclotron -- Uranium -- Uranium fission -- Neutron production -- Fission fragments -- Neutron capture -- The problem -- Probabilities -- Slow neutrons and moderators -- Purity of materials -- Pure U-235 -- The new elements -- Chemical separation of plutonium -- U-235 vs plutonium -- Separation of uranium isotopes -- The gaseous diffusion method -- A production nightmare -- Centrifugal separation -- Electromagnetic separation -- The turning point -- The first experimental pile -- The first chain-reacting pile -- The plutonium problem -- The lattice -- Shielding and control -- The Clinton installations -- The Hanford plant -- Los Alamos, New Mexico -- The critical size factor -- The time factor -- The atomic bomb explosion -- Military future of atomic energy -- Peacetime future of atomic energy -- Electricity -- Steam -- Small-unit propulsion -- Industrial by-products -- Supply and cost factors -- Social implications -- Ave! -- Appendix I. Personnel of The Project -- Appendix II. Canadian development -- Appendix III. Sharing the secret.

Author: Virgil Jordan
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 78

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