Introduction: 2

1. WHAT IS ATOM? - 3 - 4

2. A BRIEF HISTORY OF ATOMIC THEORY DEVELOPMENT

2.1) ... a philosophical view 5

2.2) ... a scientific view 6 - 7 - 8 - 9

3. RADIOACTIVE MINERALS 10 - 11 - 12

4. ATOMS AND ENERGY PRODUCTION

4.1) The discovery of fission 13

4.2) The first nuclear power plant 14 - 15

4.3) Nuclear reactor technology 16 - 17

4.4) Reactivity control 18 19 - 20 - 21

4.5) Nuclear fuel 22

5. ATOM: REGULATORY AGENCIES AND RESEARCH 23 - 24

5.1) Regulatory agencies 25 - 26

5.2) Nuclear research 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31

6. USE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

6.1) ... electricity generation 32

6.2) ... nuclear-powered ships 33 - 34 - 35 - 36

6.3) ... human health 37 - 38 - 39

6.4) ... radioactivity 40 - 41

6.5) ... bombs 42

7. FEAR OF NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST

7.1) Launched the arms race 43

7.2) The End of WWII and the bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki 44 - 45

7.3) The Cold War 46 - 47 - 48

7.4) Nuclear Disarmament: The Awareness 49 - 50 - 51

7.5) Nuclear Disarmament: The Treaties 52 - 53 - 54 - 55

8. ATOMS, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT

8.1) Atoms and Environment 56 - 57

8.2) Nuclear Accidents 58

8.3) Safety and Civil Defense 59 - 60

9. ATOMS IN THE PEOPLE'S CULTURE 61 - 62 - 63

Conclusion 64