A whole new world- the atomic century

Yearly Growth of Total Structures

As the world progressed into the 19th century, many scientific discoveries were made. Some most notable discoveries were the development of evolution, the understanding of energy, knowledge of the solar system, and the ability to manipulate the ever-so-small atom (to give you an idea, and helium atom is 10^-10 meter, something you can't see with the naked eye). Interestingly, the knowledge of chemistry and physics we have today arose from the upheaval of scientific progress in recent times, which replaced eons of previous discoveries. (see the example of protein structures that have been characterized and discovered from pdb). With these new ways of thinking and incredible new technologies also came a great issue of power and ethical use of these technologies. More specifically, the atomic age.


In the early 19th century, there was little information known behind why atoms exhibited their specific behavior. Furthermore, classic thermodynamics needed a way to explain the principle of blackbody radiation. These discoveries were soon to be made.

In 1895, Wilhelm Konrad Roentgen discovered X-rays as he conducted experiments involving high voltage currents.

The next year, Henri Becquerel discovered radioactivity in a piece of uranium salt. This discovery led to the discovery of energy within compounds and suggested that compound structures contributed to compound characteristics.

Soon, discoveries began following rapidly. Radiation was isolated in specific sources, like uranium ore. Polonium was discovered in 1896, and radium was discovered in 1897. Soon after, different forms of radiation were discovered as well, namely alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. Then, the development of the great Quantum Theory, greatly feared by physical chemistry students, but super helpful in understanding the behavior of atoms.

Univeristy of Michigan

As discoveries progressed, more and more tools became accessible to mankind. Physicians could harness the power of radiation and view into the body without having to perform surgery (X-ray, CAT scan, MRI), chemists could tag enzymes, proteins, and other molecules with radiation to follow reactions within the cell, reactions requiring high amounts of energy could be made, energy could be harnessed from these radioactive reactions, and many other discoveries. 

However, these discoveries required new regulation and training (because I work with radioactive tritium in my biochem lab, I had to take the radiation safety examination before even touching the stuff).

There was great power and potential in the field of nuclear weapons, and the government began a nuclear program. This program known as the Manhattan Project resulted in the atomic bombs that were dropped in Japan.

So then began a big race, GAME THEORY. People trying to outbuild and outcompete other nations. The nuclear arms race right? But what we need to take into account is that the nuclear waste is a fun thing to get rid of...seriously. The half life of tritium, the radioactive substance I work with in my lab, is 12.3 years! Getting rid of this stuff takes a lot of effort, we see it going on today.

http://library.thinkquest.org/17940/texts/nuclear_waste_storage/nuclear_waste_storage.html