Radioactivity : a history of a mysterious science
This is the story of a new science. Beginning with an obscure discovery in 1896, radioactivity led researchers on a quest for understanding that ultimately confronted the intersection of knowledge and mystery. Mysterious from the start, radioactivity attracted researchers who struggled to understand it. What caused certain atoms to give off invisible, penetrating rays? Where did the energy come from? These questions became increasingly pressing when researchers realized the process seemed to continue indefinitely, producing huge quantities of energy. Investigators found cases where radioactivi
1 online resource (xxi, 267 pages) : illustrations, map
9780199830497, 9781283168427, 9786613168429, 9780199831784, 0199830495, 1283168421, 6613168424, 0199831785
744616855
A new science. The beginnings ; The Curies ; Rutherford, Soddy, particles, and alchemy? ; The radioactive Earth ; Speculations ; Radioactivity and chemistry ; Inside the atom ; Sequel
Measuring and using radioactivity. Methods and instruments ; Radioactivity, medicine, and life ; New industries
Beyond the story. Radioactivity's prime movers ; Radioactivity and timeless questions : the quest for understanding ; The imaginative appeal of a discovery
English