The religion of The Atom died with Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. With that fall from grace came the end of many of our utopian dreams. A responsible future of conservation and organic carrots just wasn’t very exciting.
Although widespread use of the atom remains controversial; 436 reactors remain the source of 15 per cent of the world’s electricity. In some European countries atomic power accounts for over one third of electrical generation. China has 27 under construction.
Despite the decades of public relations and meaningful scientific progress the atomic genie is still threatening. The fundamental parable of science for good or evil is still a question mark. We are now living in the ‘future’ and we are all part of the ongoing experiment.
April 8th, 2011
Atomic power was projected to be very cheap. We were going to have electricity coming out of our ears! We would not have to import oil from crazy foreigners or dig up whole states looking for coal.
Utility companies and government agencies around the world took up the chant of the mighty atom. Nuclear power plants were seen as a springboard for third world countries to leap out of poverty and hunger. The symbol of electrons swirling around a nucleus looked cool and made keen designs for everything from lamps to automobile logos. Wildly illustrated magazine articles about a glorious ‘atomic age’ sold to junior mad-scientists and future minded suburban families. Atomic energy was a very bright and shiny promise.
Limitless power! The concept was intoxicating. We could air-condition entire cities, de-salt sea water, fly around the world on a pound of fuel, colonize space and then melt the ice-caps just for fun. Impossible notions of miniaturized atomic power cells spun fables of soon to come atomic powered cars, planes and even vacuum cleaners. Scientists started tests to see if hydrogen bombs could carve out instant canals and harbors.
April 1st, 2011
Ultra Swank – Your one stop blog for retro living, style and design
Ultra Swank takes you back in time into the kitsch, chic and swank living of the 50s, 60s and the 70s. We mainly focus on the design, architecture and the lifestyle of the happy-go-lucky and space-age-living mentality of that era – but also on the music and movies that takes you back to happier times. Ultra Swank is run by Chris, a Swede born in the wrong decade that currently resides in Barcelona. Read more
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No modern technology has ever had such a schizophrenic and complicated identity as Atomic Energy. It is often presented in mystical terms. A Pandora’s Box of knowledge that cannot be unlearned. The magical Genie that can do both help or harm but cannot be returned to his bottle. Nuclear Power is the ultimate parable of modern science.
With the use of atomic bombs at the end of World War II the world became aware of the god-like power of atomic fission. Newsreels of the horrible destruction and disfigured civilians created a closet of guilty conscience.
But stronger than the fears and guilt was optimism. There seemed to be no limit to what modern technology could accomplish. The idea of transforming the evil power that could destroy the world into an ultimate energy source to help mankind was irresistible. The peaceful use of atomic power; what would come to be called “Atoms for Peace”.
March 23rd, 2011
This is the House of the Future (or Plastic House of the Future) at Disneyland, California circa 1957 – where you could get a glimpse of what the future held in technology and comfort in the year 1986. Look at all those fancy buttons all over the place, I crave more buttons in my apartment too! Many things would probably be regarded as somewhat retro-future kitschy today, but one gadget that was eventually invented was the microwave oven. The house was open until 1967 when the it was demolished to make room for other projects. Parts of the construction was so sturdy seeing it was rated for earthquakes it was impossible to remove it and couple of the remaining pillars for the house can now be seen in Neptune’s Grotto. One more video after the jump. (Via)
By Chris
June 30th, 2009
Check out this scanned article from Popular Science back in 1966 featuring the zany gadgets that was used in the 007 movie Thunderball. Thank you Royalton for the tip!
Some of the gadgets actually are buckled onto Connery’s famous back. One is the Bell jet-pack flying belt Bond uses in the beginning of the film to escape from a French chateau. Connery has to wear a special Dacron suit whose color won’t bleach out when touched by the belt’s highly concentrated peroxide fuel. The belt provides about 20 seconds of flight, but only 10 seconds is used for the upward flight. It would be disastrous to run out of power a couple of hundred feet up in the air.
By Chris
December 12th, 2008
This is a photo from Disneyland probably taken in the early 1970s. It depicts an attraction called The Peoplemover. It was meant as a demonstration of futuristic technology, suitable for moving people around urban centers, airports, shopping malls and what not. It was introduced in 1967 and took the passengers for a ride around Tomorrowland at Disneyland in Los Angeles, with the light weight tunes of Buddy Baker playing in the background. The ride was unfortunately closed in 1995.
By Chris
September 11th, 2005
