SKU: 77093988

Atomic America: How a Deadly Explosion and a Feared Admiral Changed the Course of Nuclear History

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Atomic America: How a Deadly Explosion and a Feared Admiral Changed the Course of Nuclear HistoryOn January 3, 1961, nuclear reactor SL 1 exploded in rural Idaho, spreading radioactive contamination over thousands of acres and killing three men. The army blamed "human error" and a sordid love triangle. Though overshadowed by Three Mile Island, SL 1 remains the only fatal nuclear reactor incident in American history. Todd Tucker, who first heard the rumors about the Idaho Falls explosion as a trainee in the navy's nuclear program, suspected there

On January 3, 1961, nuclear reactor SL-1 exploded in rural Idaho, spreading radioactive contamination over thousands of acres and killing three men. The army blamed "human error" and a sordid love triangle. Though overshadowed by Three Mile Island, SL-1 remains the only fatal nuclear reactor incident in American history.
Todd Tucker, who first heard the rumors about the Idaho Falls explosion as a trainee in the navy's nuclear program, suspected there was more to the accident than rumors suggested. Poring over hundreds of pages of primary sources and interviewing survivors revealed that the army and its contractors had deliberately obscured the true cause of the accident, which resulted from poor engineering as much as uncontrolled passions. The National Reactor Testing Station, where the meltdown occurred, had been a proving ground where engineers, generals, and admirals attempted to realize the Atomic Age dream of unlimited power--amid the frantic race for nuclear power between the army, the navy, and the air force. The fruit of those ambitious plans included that of the nation's unofficial nuclear patriarch, Admiral Rickover, whose "true submarine," the USS Nautilus, would forever change naval warfare. But with the meltdown in Idaho came the end of the army's program and the beginning of the navy's long-standing monopoly on military nuclear power. Atomic America provides a fast-paced narrative history, advocating caution and accountability in harnessing nuclear energy.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Bison Books
Published: 11/01/2010
ISBN: 9780803234024
Pages: 304
Weight: 1.03lbs
Size: 8.90h x 6.00w x 0.70d
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SKU: 77093988

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W C
New York, US
★★★★★ 1
Don't try to save $$ when buying pillows. Better to sleep happy!
Size: Standard (2 Pillows + 2 Protectors), Style: Soft, Configuration: Pillows + Protectors, Size: Standard (2 Pillows + 2 Protectors), Style: Soft, Configuration: Pillows + Protectors
Instead of purchasing what I was looking for I went with the Amazon variation and I'll think twice before doing that again. The reviews for this pillow said that it was "soft" (not FIRM) and good for side sleepers. Now imagine a pillow that you have to inflate, and you fill it to maximum capacity, then try to sleep on that balloon! It barely gives when you lay on it and is FIRM! Go with your gut and don't try and save a few bucks when you buy something as important as a pillow. Unfortunately they were vacuum packed and I don't think I can return them. They inflated quite a bit and it would be a pretty big hassle. Someone is getting a gift of 2 very firm pillows!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2025
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DR
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
The best pillow I've ever had!
Size: King (U.S. Standard), Number of Items: 2
I have tried a LOT of pillows over the years. I'm allergic to feathers so I need something non-allergenic. I am a back and side sleeper, and all of the pillows I've tried have gone flat after just a few weeks. Well I've had these for a couple of months now, and they show no sign of flatness whatsoever. A few punches or a fluff cycle in my dryer each week plumps them right up. They are just the right kind of firmness -- enough give so that I'm not kinking my neck, but not too much give so that my head ends up on the mattress by morning. I just cannot say enough good things about these pillows. I'm so excited that I finally found one that is perfect for me. As others have said, they arrive vacuum packed. They look a bit weird, and it will make you wonder how they will ever fluff up from how flat they are when they arrive. But look at it as an opportunity to take out your frustrations lol. Whack them on a wall, punch the bejeebers out of them, it will make you feel good and it will inflate them right up. Or throw them in the dryer like I did and in 15 minutes you will have a perfectly fluffy pillow. All in all, I highly recommend these. The price point is so reasonable, and they seem to be well made. Five stars all around.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2025
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Gary
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
Updated: actually very good pillows for the price
Size: King (U.S. Standard), Number of Items: 2
Wow! It is amazing at how compact these arrive in their package... it actually was a bit of work to get them out of the packaging it was so tight. Once out, they immediately began to "size up" and within about 15 minutes had reached maximum size. They are comfortable pillows, but lack the firmness that I wanted. On a scale of 1-5, I'd rate them 3 at the most, possible a 2 if 5 is maximum firmness. Updated: After about a month or so of having these, I have to admit my initial impressions were flat out wrong... these are fantastic... comfortable and more firm than I initially thought... probably 4-4.5 out of 5 on the firmness scale now. Maybe they just take a while to decompress? Anyway, would now definitely recommend!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2025
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Erin K. Ellison
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 4
Not firm. But nice and fluffy
Size: King (U.S. Standard), Number of Items: 2
Very fluffy. Not firm.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2025
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Verified Purchase
Kristina Borrajero
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
Great pillows
Size: King (U.S. Standard), Number of Items: 4
These pillows are a must buy. Very soft and sturdy. It feels like a cloud when I lay on them. And I love how long they are too. The price for the amount was a huge bonus too.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2026

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