Science: AEC Unlimited

The often-attacked Atomic Energy Commission submitted to Congress this week its sixth semiannual report, dealing mainly with its peaceful, nonsecret activities. The list of these is impressive, for atomic energy, as befits a revolution in human affairs, touches nearly every branch of science.

Department of Research. In its three hectic years, AEC has grown into something very like a federal department of research. Its three great national laboratories (Brookhaven on Long Island, Argonne at Chicago, and Oak Ridge, Tenn.) are becoming major centers of scientific life. Smaller AEC laboratories are sprouting up all over the country. At present the program employs about 6,500 scientists and technicians. On the vital problem of personnel, the report, signed by Chairman David E. Lilienthal and his four fellow commissioners, commented significantly: “The morale situation has recovered from a very low point.”

Bat’s Wings. AEC is deep in medical research. In preparation for the coming atomic age, it is studying the effect of radiation on man and other living organisms. This involves basic work on body cells and their chemistry, for radiation kills cells by causing subtle chemical changes inside them. At Argonne, AEC scientists are irradiating small bats and examining their tissue-thin wings under high-power microscopes, to study the effects of radiation on blood and its delicate corpuscles.

At Brookhaven, AEC doctors have fitted tiny lead shields around the adrenal glands of rats and turned on the radiation. These rats lived significantly longer than unshielded ones, proving that radiation does part of its damage by upsetting the hormone secretions of the adrenal gland. Other researchers found that treatment with female sex hormones increased rats’ resistance to radiation. Out of such work may come techniques of immunization against the radiation hazards which, even without atomic war, are sure to become more troublesome in the future.

Another AEC program is the development of better means of detecting dangerous radiation before it has done any harm. One AEC team is observing Bikini Atoll, where fish, mollusks and even land plants are still concentrating radioactive substances from the A-bombs that exploded there in 1946.

Radioactive Hornets. Brookhaven scientists discovered that ordinary hornets accumulate barium in their bodies. Since radioactive barium is one of the products of uranium fission, they intend to place hornets at key positions around Brookhaven’s nuclear reactor. If the hornets become radioactive, the scientists will know that fission products are getting loose.

Brookhaven is also studying the effect of radiation on plants. A field has been marked off with concentric circles, and various crops have been planted on the circular lines. In the center is a powerful source of radiation (cobalt 60). By the end of summer, Brookhaven’s nuclear-agronomists will know more about radiation effects upon growing plants.

There is hardly a science that has not felt the touch of AEC. The commission is working on new alloys and other materials for the atomic age. It is deep in cancer research. Its program of making and distributing isotopes, both radioactive and stable, has worked a genuine revolution in U.S. science.

The AEC report says little about A-bombs. Its six vague pages entitled “Military Application” sound like a Soviet report on the current five-year plan. “New and more effective atomic weapons,” says AEC, “which were tested at Eniwetok in 1948, are in production.” That is about all. There is not a firm figure to inform, alarm or comfort the nation’s potential foes or friends.

But the bulk of AEC’s sixth semiannual report is specific and heartening. It is solid evidence that the world’s first A-bombs did not explode for purposes of war and destruction alone.