The birth of the peaceful atom

The Atomic Energy Act of 1946 stressed not only the development of better weapons, but it offered peacetime goals. It created the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy (JCAE) and authorized the creation of international entities to study safeguards for atomic materials and organizations involved in the trade and exchange of peacetime information. The author discusses the progress the JCAE has made in establishing numerous development programs for atomic weaponry, nuclear energy and the use of radioactive isotopes. One of the most important objectives, however, which has not been attained, is the development and construction of a breeder reactor. The author believes this sets our nation behind in the race for abundant, affordable energy