Uranium occurs naturally in the Earth's crust, yet it holds the power to end all life on the planet. This is its fundamental paradox and its story, told here, is a fascinating window into the valour, greed, genius and folly of humanity. A problem for miners in the Middle Ages, an inspiration to novelists, a boon to medicine, a devastating weapon at the end of WWII, a polluter, an excuse for war with Iraq and a possible last defense against global warming, Uranium is the most powerful element on earth and one which will shape the future, for better or worse.
About the book
Uranium occurs naturally in the Earth's crust, yet it holds the power to end all life on the planet. This is its fundamental paradox and its story, told here, is a fascinating window into the valour, greed, genius and folly of humanity. A problem for miners in the Middle Ages, an inspiration to novelists, a boon to medicine, a devastating weapon at the end of WWII, a polluter, an excuse for war with Iraq and a possible last defense against global warming, Uranium is the most powerful element on earth and one which will shape the future, for better or worse.