Atoms for Women: the Atomic Enthusiasms of Muriel Howorth
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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Muriel’s Eccentric Atomic Occasions Round 1: An Atomic Ballet
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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Muriel’s Eccentric Atomic Occasions Round 2: An Irradiated Peanut Dinner
What do you do with atomic peanuts? Serve them to unsuspecting dinner guests, of course.
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The Atomic Gardening Society
Surely the strangest gardening society ever assembled, Muriel’s AGS distributed irradiated seeds, organized tours, and awarded prizes for the best atomic plants.
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Just when you think things can’t get any weirder…L. Ron Hubbard shows up.
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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Disillusionment and Demise
“…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
Oral Histories of the Atomic Gardens
Soon there won’t be anyone left who remembers the midcentury atomic gardens…if you do, please add your history via the contact form to be included with the others here!
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Atomic Garden Resources: The Wilkinson Collection
I visited Muriel’s remaining family. Here is what was in her trunk of mementos.
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