This brings me to my latest read, Ann Finkbeiner's "The Jasons: The Secret History of Science's Postwar Elite
Jason worked on the hardest nuts to crack that the DOD had. The projects ranged from how to detect nuclear missile launches, how to distinguish between real and dummy warheads, how to communicate with nuclear submarines, to how to verify the various nuclear test ban treaties. Most of the early Jason members had joined because of a combination of patriotism and guilt over developing the atomic bomb. Many of the Jasons hoped to put the nuclear genie back in the bottle. They obviously were not successful. Over the years new scientists, including non-physicists, would rotate in, chosen by the Jasons, helping keep Jason fresh.
Jason's influence began declining after Viet Nam. During this war they were instrumental in developing the concept of the electronic battlefield (using sensors to detect and engage enemy troop movements). They issued reports that helped kill the idea of using tactical nuclear weapons in Viet Nam (and sadly they had to do it again during the Iraq war). One of their favorite duties was Lemon Detection - i.e. debunking stupid ideas. They were not very supportive of the Star Wars programs and missile defense. They didn't participate in development of Stealth technologies (They were not asked to participate, a sign of the waning influence).
Many of the studies and work that the Jasons produced were and still are classified. The public may never know how much Jason has/is contributing. It sounds like the early meetings, held during the summer so that the scientists, mostly professors, had free time, were fascinating. Some of the greatest minds of the time, gathered in La Jolla, CA, shooting the sh!t with each other, bouncing equations off the greatest intellects of the time. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall. The current Jason is a little more fragmented and the camaraderie there was at its founding has diminished somewhat.
Being the geek I am, I wish there were more independent scientists advising the Government. Today, the Government depends too much on scientists employed by industry or directly by the Government whose independence and impartiality are questionable.
The book was put together using dozens of interviews and is a very good read. Highly recommended.
Oh, great, something ELSE for the reading list. Thanks. ;)
ReplyDeleteJust an aside, Penguin publishes some of the most interesting stuff...
GH: It is a good read. Interesting stuff.
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