Historical Analysis of Mythic Discourse on Nuclear Science and Technology

Abstract

Mythmaking helps people navigate the world they live in. It is an active process that people use to naturalize complex topics. In order to better understand current ideas surrounding nuclear, we need to understand how and why these ideas emerged, rather than focusing on if they are factual or not. By analyzing the archives from the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, we can examine the complex history of mythmaking and how the discourse around nuclear science and technology has changed over time as shown through material culture. We can also compare mythic discourse in The United States to other countries, such as India and Australia, to further understand the factors involved in mythmaking surrounding nuclear.