9781422285640

Uranium is also precious because it is not always easy to find: almost all the world’s uranium comes from only a handful of countries, including Kazakhstan (the largest producer), Canada, Australia, Russia, Niger, Namibia, and the United States. Don’t get too close, though. Uranium sheds particles known as radiation that could kill you. Yet when doctors use special machines to control the release of these high-energy particles, they can cure people of diseases and provide a more accurate diagnosis on what ails a patient. Uranium has reshaped modern history, influenced the thoughts and actions of political leaders, and inspired science-fiction novelists and filmmakers. In uranium, unlike any other element, we see the best and worst humankind has to offer. The element has the capacity to move science to new frontiers, while also fueling the ultimate weapon of terror.

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