The author tells the story of growing up near Rocky Flats, a secret nuclear weapons plant working with plutonium in Colorado, and investigates accidents and government concealed toxic and radioactive waste released by the plant.
Details NASA's mishaps with plutonium-fueled missions and its unrealistic calculations about the probability of a major accident, and offers a solar alternative that would make missions safe.
Examines the history of plutonium, and discusses its properties, how it is produced, and also describes plutonium compounds and their uses; and looks at its relationship to the other elements in the periodic table.
Traces the history of plutonium, explaining how it was discovered, why scientists originally began looking for it, how its dangerous properties were discovered and used, and other related topics.
Presents the case of a union member, who died under mysterious circumstances on the way to talk with a New York Times reporter about the activities of the plutonium plant where she worked.
Presents the case of union member Karen Silkwood, who died under mysterious circumstances on the way to talk with a "New York Times" reporter about the activities of the plutonium plant where she worked.
