The World of Uranium with Tom Zoellner

Tom Zoellner, award-winning writer and Chapman University professor, joins AMSEcast to discuss his book Uranium: War, Energy and the Rock that Shaped the World. He and Alan discuss the discovery of uranium, its radioactive nature, and its historical impact. Once dismissed as worthless by miners, uranium became vital to energy and warfare. The U.S. uranium rush peaked in the 1950s but has since declined. Today, uranium enrichment is expanding in the U.S., with major players like Orano investing in Oak Ridge.     Guest Bio Tom Zoellner is an award-winning writer and the author of nine books, including Uranium: War, Energy and the Rock that Shaped the World. His work has appeared in The Atlantic, Time, and Scientific American, among other publications. A former staff writer for The Arizona Republic and The San Francisco Chronicle, Tom brings deep expertise in history, science, and investigative journalism. He currently teaches at Chapman University and serves as editor at large for the Los Angeles Review of Books.       Show Highlights (1:28) Why is uranium radioactive and what does that mean? (3:09) How uranium was discovered (5:51) The American uranium rush (9:13) Where the uranium used in the Manhattan Project came from (11:17) How uranium supplies and facilities that use them around the world are controlled (13:35) How the nation of Georgia became the crossroads for uranium smuggling (15:29) Where uranium is currently being enriched and how it affects national security (18:02) What's next for Tom Zoellner     Links Referenced Uranium: War, Energy and the Rock that Shaped the World: https://www.amazon.com/Uranium-Energy-Rock-Shaped-World/dp/0670020648