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Atomic Adventures

Secret Islands, Forgotten N-Rays, and Isotopic Murder - A Journey into the Wild World of Nuclear Science

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Atomic Adventures

By: James Mahaffey
Narrated by: Keith Sellon-Wright
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About this listen

Whether you are a scientist or a poet, pro-nuclear energy or staunch opponent, conspiracy theorist or pragmatist, James Mahaffey's books have served to open up the world of nuclear science like never before. With clear explanations of some of the most complex scientific endeavors in history, Mahaffey's new book looks back at the atom's wild, secretive past and then toward its potentially bright future.

Mahaffey unearths lost reactors on far-flung Pacific islands and trees that were exposed to active fission that changed gender or bloomed in the dead of winter. He explains why we have nuclear submarines but not nuclear aircraft and why cold fusion doesn't exist. And who knew that radiation counting was once a fashionable trend?

Though parts of the nuclear history might seem like a fiction mash-up where cowboys somehow got a hold of a reactor, Mahaffey's vivid prose holds the listener in thrall of the infectious energy of scientific curiosity and ingenuity that may one day hold the key to solving our energy crisis or sending us to Mars.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2017 James Mahaffey (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Engineering History History & Philosophy Physics Science Imperial Japan Military Air Force
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Mahaffey is a true Nerd in a positive sense. I bought this following his prior and excellent ‘nuclear accidents’ book. This book is wider ranging with many interesting stories, no doubt mainly true. I came unstuck at the end when, although a long term UFO follower himself, he proposes a dubious alternative narrative to the Roswell case, ignoring massive evidence that has since come to light since the “it was just a weather balloon” fiasco. James’ suggestion is only one click up from that. Anyway enough good stuff to make this a good read.

All going well until Roswell

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Very funny, thanks to television’s Big Bang Theory and very very sad
listening to round about figures of tax dollars the US administration
has wasted trying to outdo an un-interested European Country.
This book was a delightful listen, thank you James Mahaffey :-)

Taken with a grain of salt

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The descriptions of often quite abstract elements of nuclear physics are well set out without indulging in excessive technical terminology. The author is especially good at conveying complex aspects of quantum mechanics in a way that informs rather than beguiles the narrative.
The book falters a bit in its objectivity in the discussion of cold fusion experiments. The author’s personal experience and resulting frustration with the Fleischmann–Pons experiment changes the perspective of the narrative from an informative survey to a semi-biography, replete with unnecessary detail and an element of bitterness that compromises the rest of the book.
Still, well worth listening to.

Entertaining and informative

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great a little insight into the early nuclear world, a little to much chemistry. Very entertaining

if you ever asked yourself how we got to this modern world

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