Radioactivity: A History of a Mysterious Science

by Marjorie C. Malley

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 radioactivity did change, forcing them to the startling conclusion that radioactive bodies were transmuting into other substances. Chemical elements were not immutable after all. Radioactivity produced traces of matter so minuscule and evanescent that researchers had to devise new techniques and instruments to investigate them.
Scientists in many countries, but especially in laboratories in Paris, Manchester, and Vienna unraveled the details of radioactive transformations. They created a new science with specialized techniques, instruments, journals, and international conferences. Women entered the field in unprecedented numbers. Experiments led to revolutionary ideas about the atom and speculations about atomic energy. The excitement spilled over to the public, who expected marvels and miracles from radium, a scarce element discovered solely by its radioactivity. The new phenomenon enkindled the imagination and awakened ancient themes of literature and myth.
Entrepreneurs created new industries, and physicians devised novel treatments for cancer. Radioactivity gave archaeologists methods for dating artifacts and meteorologists a new explanation for the air's conductivity. Their explorations revealed a mysterious radiation from space. Radioactivity profoundly changed science, politics, and culture. The field produced numerous Nobel Prize winners, yet radioactivity's talented researchers could not solve the mysteries underlying the new phenomenon. That was left to a new generation and a new way of thinking about reality.
Radioactivity presents this fascinating history in a way that is both accessible and appealing to the general reader. Not merely a historical account, the book examines philosophical issues connected with radioactivity, and relates its topics to broader issues regarding the nature of science.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, History, Physics, Chemistry

280 pages, Hardcover

First published July 7, 2011

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book does a good job of decribing the history of radioactivity : from Becquerel rays to radium to alpha and beta particles, on to the theories about the nucleus and the ultimate applications of radioactivity and nuclear energy. Unfortunately, the book, written by someone with an impressive pedigree in physics and the history of science, requires the reader to be fairly knowledgeable about the subject already. This is not Radioactivity 101 ! For instance, the author does a good job of listing all the different theories and hypotheses that were produced during these exciting decades, but sometimes it would have been good to know just exactly how these theories were correct or incorrect. For instance, she mentions how some scientists tried to use thermodynamics to explain certain aspects of the behavior of small particles, apparently incorrectly. I couldn't follow that section. Then all of a sudden Einstein's equation pops up, without much explanation, and it appears to be based on yet another principle. The author seemed very eager to stay away from putting math symbols and equations in the book (which makes, for instance, the discussion of Planck's constant a little...vague). Perhaps the author had heard the saying that every equation in a book about science decreases its circulation by 100,000 ?!

The second part of the books consists of chapters that seem to be loosely connected : a chapter about medical uses of radioactivity, something about the fate of the researchers during the world wars, a fun overview of the passing interest in radioactive spring water. I found this part to be much less interesting (although easier to understand) than the first part.

Finally, the book could have been illustrated better. The vintage schematics of cathode tubes and other lab tools had a certain nostalgic charm, but weren't really very helpful in understanding what type of beam came out of where and went in what direction, hitting what obstacle, slit or flame on the way.

Bottom line : an enjoyable book written by someone who clearly understands what she's talking about. It seems like the author was not clear on her intended audience : the absence of mathematics and detailed technical illustrations seems to indicate that it was intended for a very general audience - yet there were certainly passages that required a more thorough knowledge of physics and chemistry than I anticipated when I opened the book.

[John Gribbin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Radioactivity is a great disappointment. The idea of a little book using radiation as the unifying theme to discuss some of the great science of the twentieth century is appealing, the level of the book is pitched just right for young teenagers developing an interest in science, and the rather plodding style could be forgiven if the information conveyed were accurate. Alas, in all too many places, it is not, in spite of being, we are told by the author, “based on years of my research”.
Marjorie Malley is introduced to us as a historian of science, garlanded with degrees from MIT, Harvard, and Berkeley. It is hard to take seriously a historian who does not know the difference between the Roman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire – which, as all the boys I went to school with knew, was neither Holy, nor Roman nor an Empire. She also seems to think that the USA was pursuing a nuclear bomb programme before the outbreak of World War II. It is hard to take seriously a scientist who, among a catalogue of errors as long as my arm, thinks that electrons can pass through metal foil (a diagram which the author includes but clearly does not understand demonstrates the opposite); incorrectly describes Big Bang nucleosynthesis; and (most egregiously in this context) has only a fuzzy understanding of the special theory of relativity. Compared with this, the fact that she confuses the estimate Lord Kelvin made for the age of the Sun with the age of the Earth pales, although it does manage to be incorrect both historically and scientifically. Oh my Harvard and my MIT long ago.
Nevertheless, the book is not all bad, and the story it tells is a grand one, well worth telling. Although much of it will be familiar to anyone with the slightest scientific awareness (for example, the life and work of Marie and Pierre Curie), the intended student audience may well find much of it new. Such readers may well delight in Lord Rutherford’s comment, made as late as 1933, that “we cannot control atomic energy to an extent which would be of any value commercially, and I believe that we are not likely ever to be able to do so.”
Indeed, the appearance of such old friends in these pages gave me a warm glow, reminding me of an occasion when I attended a performance of The Importance of Being Ernest and sat near a man who had clearly never seen or read the play, and who took such delight in Wilde’s witticisms that it gave those around him some idea of what it must have been like to be at St James’s Theatre on Valentine’s Day of 1895. If radiation is as new to you as Wilde was to 1890s London, there is much to be gleaned from this book – if you concentrate on the broad picture and are wary of the details.
That big picture takes us from the discovery that atoms emit energy ands are not indivisible through the discovery of the nucleus and the possibility of transmutation of the elements (yes, the alchemists weren’t so crazy after all!) to applications of radioactivity in medicine and elsewhere, but wanders into the realms if dialectics with discussion of the possibility that our interpretation of the nature of reality may be as much a matter of philosophy as science. This is hogwash usually propounded by “philosophers” who have no experience or understanding of science at the cutting edge. You can philosophise all you like about the nature of matter and energy, but E will still be equal to mc2.
With what seems remarkably misplaced confidence, Marjorie Malley describes her book as “broad and accurate”. Were that so, I would heartily recommend it. But breadth without accuracy butters no parsnips. If only it had been written by Frank Close.

[Brian Clegg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t judge a book by its cover, my old gran used to say (and some of the covers of the books she read certainly proved she believed what she said), but in practice it is difficult advice to follow. Covers have a huge impact on our approach to a book – and combined with an old-fashioned feeling title this one screamed ‘dull textbooky kind of thing at me.’ Luckily, though, I resisted the urge to lose it at the bottom of the review pile, because Radiation has a lot going for it.

Marjorie Malley divides her book into three main sections. The first, biggest, and best gives us the history of the discovery of radioactivity and the development of the theory of what was going on. The second, which is quite interesting, looks at the applications of radioactivity. And the third, which isn’t very interesting at all, seems to be a sort of ‘put radioactivity into context’ that did very little for me. But that doesn’t matter, because that first section is so good.

It’s not that the material itself was all that new to me. I had read plenty, for example, about the Curies and their work, or about Rutherford. But what I found absolutely fascinating – and it’s something I’ve hardly ever come across in popular science writing – is the way that Malley makes us time travellers, g the feel for exactly what people were thinking and saying as work on radioactivity progressed. Instead of getting a sanitised story with a logical building of ideas, we travelled down all sorts of dead ends and incorrect theories. At times it could be quite confusing, not knowing which bits would later be proved correct, but it gave a much better feel for the nature of such scientific discovery than a typical book on the subject.

As a science writer myself I’m in awe of the work that must have gone into getting that changing perspective as we move through the timeline. It’s magnificent. So even though the middle section on applications is rushed and the final section did nothing for me, I’d still highly recommend this slim book for a great insight into an important period and series of events in the history of science.

Review first published on www.popularscience.co.uk and reproduced with permission

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is about the 5th book about radioactivity I've read this year. All featured Marie Curie to some degree and all had a different perspective. This book really focused on the individuals responsible for teasing out the mysteries surroungding radioactivity, but rather than focus on their stories, really was a summary of the history and how various theories developed over time. I think the book may have worked better if it didn't jump around so much in time. Also, I think the last few chapters should have been either fleshed out more (on the implications of the discovery and use of radioactive materials) or removed completely. Still, it was intereseting to read about the various personalities, simultaneous discoveries, and international cooperation among scientists. I'd recommend for those who are truly interested in this subject.

[Ashutosh Srivasatva]

This is a very geeky books with lots of scientific jargon which a non-technical person nay not be able to understand without considerable effort. However, readers who have relevant technical background will find it a good and interesting read.
See full review here - http://ashutoshsrivastava.com/2011/09...

[Eddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book especially more info on Marie Curie, her political and humanist views. Much of the info on radioactivity I already knew about so I skipped sections of the book. The most tragic part was the fact that many of the scientists (probably most of them) were injured and several died as a result of their ignorance about handling radium and uranium.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting look into tht history of the science of radioactivity and many of the key players involved in its discovery and understanding.

[Denise Kawaii · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me the breakthrough I needed to finish my next project! A very interesting and enjoyable look at the history of radioactivity in the global culture of science and discovery.

[Alexia M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a good premise but it seemed to lack a guiding principle (fil directeur). The last few chapters in particular were a hodge-podge. A bit of a shame.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books about the history of science tend to tell not only the story of the bit of science involved but also something about how the human mind wonders, investigates, solves problems, learns and knows. In this brief history of the discovery and investigation of radioactivity, Malley gives considerable attention to those whose theories were wrong, whose hypotheses were disproved and whose predictions were in error. This is an excellent quality to the work in that it correctly represents how science works. This book tells the story of the discovery of radiation, the discovery of the radioactive elements and the pursuit of a (necessarily new) theory to explain how they could possibly exist. A lesser book could have done this without the biographies of the Curies and other giants of the field, without explaining the geo-political background, without reporting some of the silly applications made in medicine, without the exciting story of how women broke into a major field of scientific study while they were excluded from many others, and without consideration of the social and philosophical implications of the research and discoveries. But it wouldn't have been nearly as good.

[Logan · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book does a good job presenting the interesting history of the birth of the science of radioactivity and key players in its development, the book taken as a whole, I find, is rather poor. Upon reading the dedication I could anticipate the sort of 'purple prose' writing that would follow. Rather than simply sticking to facts and anecdotes about the science and it's characters, Malley's language often reaches into a realm of idyllic fiction.

Part III of the book really says nothing at all, and for me is just conjecture and fanciful thought by the author. Ultimately, I would recommend not reading beyond Part I, though I would recommend reading at least that much. It does present an interesting history. Unfortunately, Malley should have stopped there.

[Asgar · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's rather pithy, and the language is often axiomatic, whereas she makes a statement then moves on without context or support. But I guess this can be seen as a virtue, considering people are usually opposed to digression and infinite regression. A more meaty appendix with in-text referrals to said appendix would have been helpful...

[theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

it fed my geek streak and then some. this was a comprehensive and fairly accessible history of radioactivity, a little "dry" at times but over all an enlightening read on a science that is often misunderstood.

[Aloysius · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the most exciting book I ever read, but decent if you want a narrative for not only the basics of radioactivity, but also the timeline of the discovery of those basics.

[Adam Crouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty decent read. it took me a while to get into it, but I'm glad I did.

[Mike Abrahams · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too academic. If you are expecting a good layperson exposition of a complex and interesting subject this is not what you are going to get.

[Daniel Ulm]

Very Intrested It shows how all the chemical formulas and all the chemical accidents that happened very good book

[Rachel]

DNF about a quarter through