Comments on: Trinity: the birth of nuclear weapons in graphic novel form http://boingboing.net/2012/06/06/trinity-the-birth-of.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 13:11:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: OtherMichael http://boingboing.net/2012/06/06/trinity-the-birth-of.html#comment-1444179 OtherMichael Thu, 07 Jun 2012 13:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161423#comment-1444179 This is the most off-beat <em>Prometheus</em> promotion I've seen yet. But seriously, folks -- I love me a good non-fiction graphic novel, and I love me a good how-they-created-scientific-breakthough-x, so I'm really happy to have chocolate in my peanut butter today. This is the most off-beat Prometheus promotion I’ve seen yet.

But seriously, folks — I love me a good non-fiction graphic novel, and I love me a good how-they-created-scientific-breakthough-x, so I’m really happy to have chocolate in my peanut butter today.

]]> By: escher7 http://boingboing.net/2012/06/06/trinity-the-birth-of.html#comment-1444019 escher7 Thu, 07 Jun 2012 07:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161423#comment-1444019 He was born in NZ but did a lot of work in Canada and his best work in the Victoria University of Manchester. The impressive group of theorists that developed the theory and built the bomb is filled with those to whom country meant little. Many were German Jews hiding from the Nazis. In fact they were all citizens of the world. He was born in NZ but did a lot of work in Canada and his best work in the Victoria University of Manchester. The impressive group of theorists that developed the theory and built the bomb is filled with those to whom country meant little. Many were German Jews hiding from the Nazis. In fact they were all citizens of the world.

]]> By: escher7 http://boingboing.net/2012/06/06/trinity-the-birth-of.html#comment-1444018 escher7 Thu, 07 Jun 2012 07:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161423#comment-1444018 Read the preview above and make up your own mind. Read the preview above and make up your own mind.

]]> By: escher7 http://boingboing.net/2012/06/06/trinity-the-birth-of.html#comment-1444017 escher7 Thu, 07 Jun 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161423#comment-1444017 I used to believe that the US was looking for any excuse to drop the thing, but the more I read of personal accounts of the time the more it seems that Japan may not have surrendered easily. They were putting out peace feelers but on their terms. I also believe that the Soviet threat, hardening as it did, caused the US to make a point. The problem was of course that Russia had so many spies in England and the US that they already had the plans for their own nuke. Finally, I think that Truman wanted to exact a price from Japan for Pearl and was saying to the world at large: "Don't mess with us". In this regard it has probably saved more lives, not to mention the lives saved by preventing another world war through the concept of mutual assured destruction. Now we need to worry about terrorists, Iran, North K. etc. When these chapters are written the answer may very well be different, if there is anyone around to notice. I used to believe that the US was looking for any excuse to drop the thing, but the more I read of personal accounts of the time the more it seems that Japan may not have surrendered easily. They were putting out peace feelers but on their terms. I also believe that the Soviet threat, hardening as it did, caused the US to make a point. The problem was of course that Russia had so many spies in England and the US that they already had the plans for their own nuke. Finally, I think that Truman wanted to exact a price from Japan for Pearl and was saying to the world at large: “Don’t mess with us”.

In this regard it has probably saved more lives, not to mention the lives saved by preventing another world war through the concept of mutual assured destruction. Now we need to worry about terrorists, Iran, North K. etc. When these chapters are written the answer may very well be different, if there is anyone around to notice.

]]> By: aeon http://boingboing.net/2012/06/06/trinity-the-birth-of.html#comment-1443971 aeon Thu, 07 Jun 2012 05:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161423#comment-1443971 Or stealing their dessert recipes; taking credit for a certain famous racehorse; thinking the Wright's have a valid claim to 'first powered flight' and speculating that an Englishman could have been first on the summit of Everest... ;-) Or stealing their dessert recipes; taking credit for a certain famous racehorse; thinking the Wright’s have a valid claim to ‘first powered flight’ and speculating that an Englishman could have been first on the summit of Everest… ;-)

]]> By: Theranthrope http://boingboing.net/2012/06/06/trinity-the-birth-of.html#comment-1443929 Theranthrope Thu, 07 Jun 2012 04:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161423#comment-1443929 ...except maybe outsiders putting "the moves" on their sheep. …except maybe outsiders putting “the moves” on their sheep.

]]> By: Manhattan Project Playboy http://boingboing.net/2012/06/06/trinity-the-birth-of.html#comment-1443817 Manhattan Project Playboy Thu, 07 Jun 2012 01:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161423#comment-1443817 Magnificent! I cannot wait to enjoy! Magnificent! I cannot wait to enjoy!

]]> By: Mark Dow http://boingboing.net/2012/06/06/trinity-the-birth-of.html#comment-1443601 Mark Dow Wed, 06 Jun 2012 22:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161423#comment-1443601 The Los Alamos Primer, a short summary of what was known in 1942 about nuclear physics with respect to a fission bomb, is a clear and fascinating document. It reads much like a graphic novel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Los_Alamos_Primer The Los Alamos Primer, a short summary of what was known in 1942 about nuclear physics with respect to a fission bomb, is a clear and fascinating document. It reads much like a graphic novel:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Los_Alamos_Primer

]]> By: Kirsty Hal http://boingboing.net/2012/06/06/trinity-the-birth-of.html#comment-1443578 Kirsty Hal Wed, 06 Jun 2012 21:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161423#comment-1443578 Ditto to above, apparently nothing irks kiwis like stealing their famous scientists Ditto to above, apparently nothing irks kiwis like stealing their famous scientists

]]> By: First Last http://boingboing.net/2012/06/06/trinity-the-birth-of.html#comment-1443561 First Last Wed, 06 Jun 2012 21:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161423#comment-1443561 I totally came here to nitpick that myself.  It's not even a typical "oh they lived their entire life somewhere else but were born here first" kiwi claim - he only moved to Britain in 1907, and his only previous time there was doing postgraduate study at Cambridge on scholarship.  I totally came here to nitpick that myself. 

It’s not even a typical “oh they lived their entire life somewhere else but were born here first” kiwi claim – he only moved to Britain in 1907, and his only previous time there was doing postgraduate study at Cambridge on scholarship. 

]]> By: Affan http://boingboing.net/2012/06/06/trinity-the-birth-of.html#comment-1443283 Affan Wed, 06 Jun 2012 18:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161423#comment-1443283 Sweet artwork.  I'm totally gonna get this. Sweet artwork.  I’m totally gonna get this.

]]> By: Walt Guyll http://boingboing.net/2012/06/06/trinity-the-birth-of.html#comment-1443165 Walt Guyll Wed, 06 Jun 2012 17:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161423#comment-1443165 The "Trolley Problem."  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolley_problem The “Trolley Problem.” 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolley_problem

]]> By: digi_owl http://boingboing.net/2012/06/06/trinity-the-birth-of.html#comment-1443148 digi_owl Wed, 06 Jun 2012 16:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161423#comment-1443148 Until the day we consider such weapons obsolete (meaning we have found something even more energetic to wave around like a oversized stick), that tally will not be completed. Until the day we consider such weapons obsolete (meaning we have found something even more energetic to wave around like a oversized stick), that tally will not be completed.

]]> By: benher http://boingboing.net/2012/06/06/trinity-the-birth-of.html#comment-1443143 benher Wed, 06 Jun 2012 16:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161423#comment-1443143 Lifesaving bombs - an oxymoron if there ever was one. And there is no shortage of morons in the Executive branch of the US government - let alone in the United States Military. Lifesaving bombs – an oxymoron if there ever was one. And there is no shortage of morons in the Executive branch of the US government – let alone in the United States Military.

]]> By: Alice MacQueen http://boingboing.net/2012/06/06/trinity-the-birth-of.html#comment-1443079 Alice MacQueen Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161423#comment-1443079 To nitpick: Ernest Rutherford was from New Zealand, NOT Britain!  (Look it up!) Kiwis, represent!  We don't have many super-famous physicists (only Pickering and Rutherford) so we can't afford to lose one to Britain... To nitpick: Ernest Rutherford was from New Zealand, NOT Britain!  (Look it up!)

Kiwis, represent!  We don’t have many super-famous physicists (only Pickering and Rutherford) so we can’t afford to lose one to Britain…

]]> By: Steve Mayne http://boingboing.net/2012/06/06/trinity-the-birth-of.html#comment-1443061 Steve Mayne Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161423#comment-1443061 Does anyone know if this is a better book than Jim Ottaviani's "Fallout"?  "Trinity" seems to cover the same material. Does anyone know if this is a better book than Jim Ottaviani’s “Fallout”?  ”Trinity” seems to cover the same material.

]]> By: Walt Guyll http://boingboing.net/2012/06/06/trinity-the-birth-of.html#comment-1443032 Walt Guyll Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161423#comment-1443032 Did the Bomb save more lives than it cost, or vice versa?  A never ending debate. Did the Bomb save more lives than it cost, or vice versa? 
A never ending debate.

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