Following the development of the atomic bomb and its use against Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the United States was confronted about the concerns of the development of nuclear weaponry. But the technology also presumably held peaceful uses ranging from the use of nuclear power for electricity, as well as broad issues from medical research to other commercial uses. Given this, the U.S. seemingly had a dual interest in controlling which countries developed nuclear weapons as well as harnessing the power of the atom for peaceful purposes. Doug Becker speaks with Jacob Hamblin about his new book “The Wretched Atom: America’s Global Gamble with Peaceful Nuclear Technology.”
Jacob Hamblin is a Professor of History at Oregon State University. He is an expert in the history and politics of science and is the author of The Wretched Atom: America’s Global Gamble with Peaceful Nuclear Technology.
Podcast:
This interview originally aired on the Scholars’ Circle. To access our archive of episodes and download this interview, click here.
For more of our audio and visual content, check out our YouTube channel, or head to the University of Auckland’s manuscripts and archives collection.
Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in this discussion reflect the views of the guest and not necessarily the views of The Big Q.
You might also like:
Q+A: Banning the bomb: Are the days of nuclear weapons numbered?
What does the TPNW mean for the future of nuclear armament? 🔊
