“The Curve of Binding Energy” is the idea of developing nuclear weapons. Theodore B. Taylor the most brilliant nuclear engineer becomes troubled with the idea of constructing a nuclear weapon that is capable of mass destruction. John McPhee applies the series of interviews with Theodore Taylor to construct “The Curve of Binding Energy”. In the book McPhee provides the reader with analytical insights into the life of Taylor and the creation of the atomic bomb. As McPhee follows Taylor in their exploration of various nuclear facilities in the early 1970’s they realize the magnitude of harm the weapon is able to exude if the information is improperly protected.
McPhee begins “The Curve of Binding Energy” by introducing vital aspects of Taylor’s early childhood that have molded and motivated his advanced nuclear developments. McPhee implements Taylor’s childhood stories to depict Taylor’s qualities and character. Taylor was born in Mexico City in 1925 and grew up during the dropping of nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He notices the bombing were extremely destructive that he decided to perfect the bomb and build an even more powerful bomb that would only be used for security purposes to end wars. The grandson of missionaries had entered the navy in 1946 after gaining his bachelors degree at California Institute of Technology in 1945. After returning from the navy inspired and motivated Taylor decided to purse a PhD in physics at the University of California he failed to graduate but was offered a job to work on plutonium bombs in Los Alamos. He became enthralled with nuclear developments and decided to take massive nuclear weapons and make them minute without forgoing the explosive nuclear power. Every bomb Taylor created were pure fission bombs which were advanced at that time. He developed the smallest fission bombs such as the scorpion and the Davy Crockett which weighed less and similarly destructive. Taylor also played a role in the Orion Project, a childhood dream to build a spaceship to go to Mars. The spaceship was as powerful as thousands of nuclear bombs combined. The space ship they planned to design was as big as a sixteen story building. However, the Limited Nuclear Ban act of 1963 put an end to the project, and it never was able to go to into space. . Taylor hated the thought of destruction and the death of thousands of innocent people due to a nuclear bomb. McPhee constantly demonstrates Taylor’s concern for the availability of nuclear materials. In the book he is very careful in his explanation of the construction of the nuclear bomb with McPhee. Taylor became increasingly concerned that these destructive nuclear bombs could be easily built by anyone. He assumes with the right materials anyone is capable of developing the nuclear bomb. He is careful to only use the information available to the public in order to preserve its secrecy. Taylor mentions Uranium-235 and plutonium-239 can easily be accessed and used to construct a nuclear bomb. With the lack of protection of these isotopes anyone can construct numerous amounts of nuclear weapons.
Ultimately, McPhee does a notable job concluding the novel. He states it is impractical to prevent all future nuclear bomb being built it is bound to occur and cause problems. Conclusively, Taylor’s life is known for the creation of powerful nuclear weapons and his unsuccessful attempts to safeguard the nuclear materials. McPhee’s book allows the reader to be conscious of the effects the atomic bomb has on civilizations with the effortless accessibility of nuclear substances. By providing the reader with analytical insights into the life of Taylor and the creation of the atomic bomb, McPhee allows one to realize “The Curve of Binding Energy” symbolizes the curve of binding energy from Taylor’s initial motivation to ending the series of violence the creation of a powerful nuclear bomb provided to understanding nuclear bombing must occur in every civilization and his attempts to warn every civilization.
McPhee begins “The Curve of Binding Energy” by introducing vital aspects of Taylor’s early childhood that have molded and motivated his advanced nuclear developments. McPhee implements Taylor’s childhood stories to depict Taylor’s qualities and character. Taylor was born in Mexico City in 1925 and grew up during the dropping of nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He notices the bombing were extremely destructive that he decided to perfect the bomb and build an even more powerful bomb that would only be used for security purposes to end wars. The grandson of missionaries had entered the navy in 1946 after gaining his bachelors degree at California Institute of Technology in 1945. After returning from the navy inspired and motivated Taylor decided to purse a PhD in physics at the University of California he failed to graduate but was offered a job to work on plutonium bombs in Los Alamos. He became enthralled with nuclear developments and decided to take massive nuclear weapons and make them minute without forgoing the explosive nuclear power. Every bomb Taylor created were pure fission bombs which were advanced at that time. He developed the smallest fission bombs such as the scorpion and the Davy Crockett which weighed less and similarly destructive. Taylor also played a role in the Orion Project, a childhood dream to build a spaceship to go to Mars. The spaceship was as powerful as thousands of nuclear bombs combined. The space ship they planned to design was as big as a sixteen story building. However, the Limited Nuclear Ban act of 1963 put an end to the project, and it never was able to go to into space. . Taylor hated the thought of destruction and the death of thousands of innocent people due to a nuclear bomb. McPhee constantly demonstrates Taylor’s concern for the availability of nuclear materials. In the book he is very careful in his explanation of the construction of the nuclear bomb with McPhee. Taylor became increasingly concerned that these destructive nuclear bombs could be easily built by anyone. He assumes with the right materials anyone is capable of developing the nuclear bomb. He is careful to only use the information available to the public in order to preserve its secrecy. Taylor mentions Uranium-235 and plutonium-239 can easily be accessed and used to construct a nuclear bomb. With the lack of protection of these isotopes anyone can construct numerous amounts of nuclear weapons.
Ultimately, McPhee does a notable job concluding the novel. He states it is impractical to prevent all future nuclear bomb being built it is bound to occur and cause problems. Conclusively, Taylor’s life is known for the creation of powerful nuclear weapons and his unsuccessful attempts to safeguard the nuclear materials. McPhee’s book allows the reader to be conscious of the effects the atomic bomb has on civilizations with the effortless accessibility of nuclear substances. By providing the reader with analytical insights into the life of Taylor and the creation of the atomic bomb, McPhee allows one to realize “The Curve of Binding Energy” symbolizes the curve of binding energy from Taylor’s initial motivation to ending the series of violence the creation of a powerful nuclear bomb provided to understanding nuclear bombing must occur in every civilization and his attempts to warn every civilization.
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