Chain Reactions looks at the fascinating, often-forgotten, stories that can be found throughout the history of the element.
Ranging from glassworks to penny stocks, medicines to weapons, and something to be feared to a powerful source of energy, this global history not only explores the development of our scientific understanding of uranium, but also shines a light on its cultural and social impact.
By understanding our nuclear past, we can move beyond the ideological opposition to atomic technology and encourage a more nuanced dialogue about whether it is feasible — and desirable — to have a genuinely nuclear-powered future.
Chain Reactions: A Hopeful History of Uranium by Lucy Jane Santos is published on 4 July, 2024.
Lucy’s written about a surprising phenomenon, nuclear tourism, in Looking for radioactivity in Las Vegas.
Our list of over 180 historical books, both fiction and non-fiction, coming out this year may give you some more reading inspiration
