Atomic Plants. Godzilla. Spider-Man.
Where do we get the idea that radiation makes things strong, rather than weak?
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Atoms for Women: the Atomic Enthusiasms of Muriel Howorth
In 1946, Muriel Howorth received a mysterious letter asking if she would like to “interest herself in atomic science”. Indeed she would.
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Muriel’s Eccentric Atomic Occasions Round 1: An Atomic Ballet
In October of 1950 Muriel Howorth staged an atomic occasion so eccentric as to be hardly believable had it not been recorded by the foreign desk at Time magazine.
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Atoms for Peace
“To the making of these fateful decisions, the United States pledges before you–and therefore before the world–its determination to help solve the fearful atomic dilemma–to devote its entire heart and mind to find the way by which the miraculous inventiveness of man shall not be dedicated to his death, but consecrated to his life.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953
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First Atomic Garden in the United States, 1961
The good citizens of Cleveland, Ohio are confronted with C.J.’s atom-blasted seeds. The looks on their faces are priceless.
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Just when you think things can’t get any weirder…L. Ron Hubbard shows up.
The founding documents of the AGS list L. Ron Hubbard, PhD, “Pioneer in Radiation” as a member of the “Scientific Advisory Board”. He was living in the UK—near Muriel—at the time and conducting his own wacky plant experiments; claiming that his e-meter readings proved that plants felt pain.
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The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the Moon Marigolds
Paul Zindel was a science teacher, and his Pulitzer prize-winning play uses C.J. Speas’ seeds as a plot device
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Atomic Seeds reach Gilligan’s Island. Fun follows.
The midcentury plant experiments inspired a 1966 episode of Gilligan’s Island. Not unexpectedly, they got the science all wrong.
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Disillusionment and Demise
“…the glamour, the excitement, of the boundless possibilities of power from the peaceful atom is gone. The peaceful atom has not ushered in a ‘new world’ but has rather become a part, a minor part, of the old one.” – David Lilienthal, 1st chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission
David Lilienthal, 1963
Atomic Garden Resources: The Wilkinson Collection
I visited Muriel’s remaining family. Here is what was in her trunk of mementos.
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