Nuclearweaponsperhapsmorethananyothermanmadethingrepresentthatuneasydichotomybetweenthebrilliantscientificcreativityof a technologicalachievementandtheconsequencesofitsfunction.
Evennow, theyseemtotalkaboutitwith a kindofwhatcouldhavebeendisappointmentplowshareandthehundredsofothernuclearteststhathavebeendonesinceitsterminationdealinthesuperviolentproductionoffundamentalparticlesthathave a real, almostunbelievableimpactonenvironmentalmakeup.
In 2000 andeight, itoccurredtoRussianavantgardepaintingexpertElenaBasner, thencuratoroftheRussianmuseuminSaintPetersburg, inundatedwith a boomingforgerymarketthatifscientistschemicallytestedthepaintinsuspiciouscanvases, theymightfindsomethinginitsmakeupwhichdatedthepiecesmoreaccuratelythanothermethods.
Using a massspectrometerBasnerandsomeartisticallymindedscientistswereabletoseethattwoisotopescesium 1 37 andstrontium 90 appearedingreaterconcentrationincanvasesfromafter 1945 whenthefirstnuclearweaponsweredetonated.