Radio-Activity of "Atomic" Glass (Exhibition)

Exist Dates

1946 July - 1946 September 1

Biographical or Historical Note

abstract

Exhibition. Opened July 1946 and closed September 1, 1946. Located in the Grand Gallery at the American Museum of Natural History. "Radio-Activity of 'Atomic' Glass" featured photographic evidence that a piece of "atomic glass" fused in the desert sand by explosion of the test atom bomb at Alamogordo, New Mexico in July, 1945 is about eight times more radio-active than a piece of uraninite ore.

Summary

"Radio-Activity of 'Atomic' Glass" featured photographic evidence that a piece of "atomic glass" fused in the desert sand by explosion of the test atom bomb at Alamogordo, New Mexico in July, 1945 is about eight times more radio-active than a piece of uraninite ore. The small piece of glass was obtained by Frederick H. Paugh, Curator of Physical Geology and Mineralogy at the Museum. With the assistance of Thane Bierwert of the Museum's photographic division, a series of photographs were made to determine the radioactivity of the glass specimen in comparison with a specimen of uraninite ore from the mineral collection. The results revealed the "atomic" glass to be highly radio- active relative to the uraninite ore. The exhibition of photographs, the glass and specimens of uraninite were on display in the 77th St. Foyer at the American Museum of Natural History from July 1946 until September 1, 1946.

Individuals and institutions involved in the creation of the exhibition: Frederick H. Pough, AMNH Curator of Physical Geology and Mineralogy.

Sources

American Museum of Natural History Press Release, July 1946. Departmental Records, 101; American Museum of Natural History Library Archives.

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Related Corporate, Personal, and Family Names

American Museum of Natural History. Grand Gallery.
Location of exhibition.

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