Word: atomic
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...physics' most exciting recent discoveries is the antiproton. It resembles an ordinary proton (present in the nuclei of all atoms), except that its electric charge is negative instead of positive. There may be (but probably are not) places in the universe where antiprotons can exist permanently, but on earth they are short-lived. As soon as one of them touches the nucleus of an ordinary atom, it is annihilated. Both its own matter and the matter of a proton or neutron in the nucleus turn into a flash of energy...
...wheel-like star tells what happens when one of the alien particles is annihilated. The antiproton (P¯ ) enters from the left. It is moving fast at first, but gradually slows down and merges with the nucleus of some unfortunate atom. There it combines with a proton or neutron, and both particles vanish, turning into 1,876 million electron volts of energy. The resulting explosion-extremely violent on the atomic scale-drives off fast-moving fragments that trace the lines of the star...
URANIUM BOOM will exceed all estimates, predicts Henry C. Anderson, planning manager for General Electric's atomic-power department. By 1975 atom-powered electric plants will be consuming 22,150 tons of uranium annually. Amount of ore required: 9,000,000 tons, several times current production...
...ATOM POWER PLANTS will be built by seven public and private power groups, if they can get clearance and financial aid from the AEC. The seven groups (among them: utilities in Alaska, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Massachusetts) want to build small 5,000-kw. to 40,000-kw. plants, costing upwards of $10 million each, turn out power competitive with conventional power plants...
Again and again the committee came back to its biggest point: AEC should share its nuclear knowledge with private companies, even set up its own "alert, forward-looking" special staff to shift as much emphasis to the peaceful atom as has so far been placed on the bomb. Both for good business and good international relations, the committee proposed that the U.S. set up a definite timetable for the delivery of nuclear power plants, which backward nations need far more than the U.S. Said the committee: "Atomic power may be the most tangible symbol of America's will...