Atomic Euphoria

I was intrigued by the images from the National Geographic readings posted at the beginning of this week. The photographs ranged from ships being blown up to people using uranium and radiation in science, medicine, and technology experimentation. It is amazing that people would be scared and intrigued at the same time by the effects of a bomb, as people hid in shelters during the blasts, while others in Nevada watched the blast outside with their family. It is interesting to think that uranium can be called a "friendly atom", as it was both friend and foe to scientists in terms of producing a bomb, and using it in order to cure health issues.

The images from National Geographic depict people with helmets, lab coats, and behind glass so that the radioactive liquids don't touch them. obot hands were used to pour radioactive liquids in order to protect the scientist from exposure. If people know uranium's harmful effects and that it could kill anyone, how did scientists happen to come across this material and decide to use it for bombs? If it is so dangerous how could scientists possibly have done all of the necessary background research in order to find all of its effects. In connection with the reading for this week in Nuclear Choices, it seems that scientists still don't know all of its effects on society. No one imaged the great destruction that uranium could do to society, and not only to a little section of the world, but a bomb dropped would affect everyone in one way or another. Although uranium and other radioactive materials have grave effects on society, it was interesting to see how overtime these materials are constantly being used in order to advance science and medicine. Uranium was used for cancer patients, gamma was used in order to keep foods from perishing, and carbon-14 was used in order to see how photosynthesis works in plants. These elements are often seen as harmful, and indeed they are, but according to these images, we must take risks if we want to advance our knowledge in the science and medical realm.

I feel that one could almost argue that the images in the National Geographic to some extent, as well as, the Plowshare movie were examples of government propaganda. The whole time that I was watching the Plowshare movie, I felt that the government was trying to sell me something and tell me that Plowshare can give economic growth for the community, as well as, can pave the way for nuclear technology and nuclear expansion. The images in National Geographic represent the "good things" that uranium and other radioactive materials can bring to the community and essentially change society's life. The movie stated that Americans shouldn't be afraid of nuclear technology and that through rigorous experimentation and studies they will find a way to control explosions and make them safe. Plowshare can make the technology that the United States needs in order to move toward their nuclear goal. Also, Plowshare made a convincing argument that their goal will not be costly; by using the different graphs and comparing their methods to conventional methods and costs it seemed promising to the average American. Although the Plowshare movie looked like the United States was on their way to finding prosperous nuclear technology, the American public was not persuaded by the idea. Although through pictures and statistics they were showed that it can benefit them, is safe, and is not a waste of money, the public was still skeptical about the government's motivations, as well as, fearful for their own lives.

During the era of nuclear power magazines and media attempted to depict the benefits of nuclear power to society. They used persuasive pictures and convincing arguments to tell people that nuclear power would not only advance our nation but would aid the United States scientifically, medically, and technologically.