Atomic gardening
Atomic gardening is a form of
The practice of plant irradiation has resulted in the development of more than 2,000 new varieties of plants, most of which are now used in agricultural production.
History
Beginning in the 1950s, atomic gardens were a part of Atoms for Peace, a program to develop peaceful[6] uses of fission energy after World War II. Gamma gardens were established in laboratories in the United States, Europe, Soviet Union, India,[1] and Japan. Though these gardens were initially designed with the aim of testing the effects of radiation on plant life, research gradually turned towards using radiation to introduce beneficial mutations that could give plants useful characteristics. Such characteristics include increased resilience to adverse weather, or a faster growth rate.[3] In addition, the Atomic Gardening Society was established in 1959 by Muriel Howorth, an atomic activist from the United Kingdom, in conjunction with a growing movement to bring atomic energy and experimentation into the lives of ordinary citizens.[7]
In 1960, Howorth published a book entitled "Atomic Gardening for the Layman" along a similar theme.
Despite the initial enthusiasm, the Atomic Gardening Society declined by the mid 1960s. This was due to a combination of public opinion moving away from atomic energy and a failure on the part of the crowd-sourced Society to produce noteworthy results.[10] In spite of this, large-scale gamma gardens remained in use, and a number of commercial plant varieties were developed and released by laboratories and private companies alike.[11]
Methodology
Gamma gardens were typically five acres (two hectares) in size, and were arranged in a circular pattern with a retractable radiation source in the middle. Plants were usually laid out like slices of a pie, stemming from the central radiation source; this pattern produced a range of radiation doses over the radius from the center. Radioactive bombardment would take place for around twenty hours, after which scientists wearing protective equipment would enter the garden and assess the results.[3] The plants nearest the center usually died, while the ones further out often featured "tumors and other growth abnormalities".[6] Beyond these were the plants of interest, with a higher than usual range of mutations, though not to the damaging extent of those closer to the radiation source.[6] These gamma gardens have continued to operate on largely the same designs as those conceived in the 1950s.[2]
Research into the potential benefits of atomic gardening has continued, most notably through a joint operation between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization.[7] Japan's Institute of Radiation Breeding is well-known for its modern-day usage of atomic gardening techniques.[12]
Cultural significance
The popularity of atomic gardening coincided with a
See also
References
- ^ a b "This Day That Age: August 30, 1960: "Gamma Garden"". The Hindu. August 30, 2010. Archived from the original on April 28, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
- ^ a b Twilley, Nicola (April 21, 2011). "Strange and Beautiful Seeds From the Atom". Edible Geography. Future Plural. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
- ^ S2CID 34494057.
- ISBN 978-0-521-47074-2. Archivedfrom the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- from the original on September 1, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- ^ a b c Trevi, Alexander (April 20, 2011). "Atomic Gardens". Pruned: On landscape architecture and related fields. Alexander Trevi. Archived from the original on April 29, 2011. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
- ^ a b Mars, Roman. "Atom in the Garden of Eden". 99% Invisible. Archived from the original on April 30, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- ^ Johnson, Paige. "Atomic Gardening for the Layman". www.atomicgardening.com. Archived from the original on December 9, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- ^ a b c Johnson, Paige (February 21, 1960). "The Atomic Gardening Society". Atomic Gardening: A timeline of events. Archived from the original on March 11, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- ^ ISBN 9780226390116.
- ^ "Atomic Gardens". Garden History Girl. Blogspot. December 2, 2010. Archived from the original on December 9, 2017. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
- ^ "Institute of Radiation Breeding". www.naro.affrc.go.jp. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- ^ Johnson, Paige (March 1, 1966). "Disillusionment and Demise". Atomic Gardening: A timeline of events. Archived from the original on March 19, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
External links
- Institute of Radiation Breeding (IRB), NIAS, MAFF, Hitachiohmiya, Japan
- IRB gamma field on Google maps
- Atomic Gardening: An Online History, a comprehensive outline of Atomic Gardening by Dr. Paige Johnson.