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1950

Where do we get the idea that radiation makes things strong, rather than weak?

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1950

In 1946, Muriel Howorth received a mysterious letter asking if she would like to “interest herself in atomic science”. Indeed she would.

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1950

In October of 1950 Muriel Howorth staged an atomic occasion so eccentric as to be hardly believable had it not been recorded by the foreign desk at Time magazine.

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1953

“To the making of these fateful decisions, the United States pledges before you–and therefore before the world–its determination to help solve the fearful atomic dilemma–to devote its entire heart and mind to find the way by which the miraculous inventiveness of man shall not be dedicated to his death, but consecrated to his life.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953

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1961

The good citizens of Cleveland, Ohio are confronted with C.J.’s atom-blasted seeds. The looks on their faces are priceless.

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1961

The founding documents of the AGS list L. Ron Hubbard, PhD, “Pioneer in Radiation” as a member of the “Scientific Advisory Board”. He was living in the UK—near Muriel—at the time and conducting his own wacky plant experiments; claiming that his e-meter readings proved that plants felt pain.

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1965

Paul Zindel was a science teacher, and his Pulitzer prize-winning play uses C.J. Speas’ seeds as a plot device

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1966

The midcentury plant experiments inspired a 1966 episode of Gilligan’s Island. Not unexpectedly, they got the science all wrong.

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1966

“…the glamour, the excitement, of the boundless possibilities of power from the peaceful atom is gone. The peaceful atom has not ushered in a ‘new world’ but has rather become a part, a minor part, of the old one.” – David Lilienthal, 1st chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission
David Lilienthal, 1963

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2017

I visited Muriel’s remaining family.  Here is what was in her trunk of mementos.

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2017

Under development…please check back!

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