Overview

By the end of the nineteenth century advances in electrochemical and spectroscopic methods, together with the discovery of elements exhibiting unique radioactive properties, worked to transform mankind's view of the cosmos on both the celestial and subatomic scale. By the end of the century the elements and matter comprising all things could no longer be viewed as immutable. Moreover, the rapid incorporation of the powerful properties of radioactive elements into medical practice established a course followed with increasing regularity and rapidity throughout the twentieth century. Although the composition and nature of radioactive elements was, at best, superficially understood, the practical benefits to be derived by society from their use forced their incorporation into technology far ahead of the pace of scientific understanding.

Background

The dramatic rise of...