Philip Abelson

Infobox Scientist
name = Philip Abelson
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caption = Philip Abelson
birth_date = April 27, 1913
birth_place = Tacoma, Washington
death_date = August 1, 2004
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nationality = American
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field = physics
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alma_mater = Washington State University University of California, Berkeley
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Philip Hauge Abelson (April 27, 1913 – August 1, 2004) was an American physicist, editor of scientific literature, and science writer.

Philip Abelson was born in 1913 in Tacoma, Washington. He attended Washington State University where he received degrees in Chemistry and Physics, and the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his Ph. D. in Nuclear Physics. As a young physicist, he worked for Ernest Lawrence at the University of California, Berkeley. He was among the first American scientists to verify Nuclear Fission in an article submitted to the Physical Review in February 1939 [http://prola.aps.org/abstract/PR/v55/i4/p418_1] . In addition, he collaborated with Nobel Prize winner Luis Alvarez in early nuclear research, and was the co-discoverer of the element Neptunium on June 8, 1940 [with Edwin McMillan, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for the discovery] .

He was a key contributor to the Manhattan Project during World War II. Although Abelson was not formally associated with the atom bomb project, the Liquid Thermal Diffusion isotope separation technique that he invented was used in the S-50 plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and proved a critical step in creating sufficient fuel for the weapon.

After the war, he turned his attention under the guidance of [http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/biomems/rgunn.html Ross Gunn] to applying nuclear power to naval propulsion. While not written at an engineering-design level, he wrote the first physics report detailing how a nuclear reactor could be installed in a submarine, providing both propulsion and electrical power. His report anticipated the nuclear submarine's role as a missile platform. This concept was later supported by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover and others. Under Rickover's relentless leadership, concept became reality in the form of USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine.

From 1951 until 1971 he served as the director of the Carnegie Institution of Washington's Geophysical Laboratory, and served as president of the Institution from 1971 to 1978. From 1962 to 1984 he was editor of Science magazine, published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and served as its acting Executive Officer in 1974, 1975 and 1984. From 1972 until 1974 he served as President of the American Geophysical Union (AGU).

During the 1970s he became interested in the problem of world energy supplies. Books on the topic include "Energy for Tomorrow" (1975), from a series of lectures at the University of Washington, and "Energy II: Use Conservation and Supply". He pointed out the possibilities of mining the Atabascan tar sands, as well as shale oil in the Colorado Rockies. In addition he urged conservation and a change of attitude towards public transit. cite book | author=Philip H. Abelson | title=Energy For Tomorrow | year=1975 | ISBN=0295954132.

Perhaps his most famous work from this time period is an editorial entitled "Enough of Pessimism" ("enough of pessimism, it only leads to paralysis and decay"). This became the title of a 100 essay collection. cite book | author=Philip H. Abelson | title=Enough of Pessimism | year = 1985 | ISBN=0871682745

After 1984, he remained associated with the magazine. Some have claimed him to be an early skeptic of the case for global warming on the basis of a lead editorial in the magazine dated March 31, 1990 in which he wrote, " [I] f the global warming situation is analyzed applying the customary standards of scientific inquiry one must conclude that there has been more hype than solid fact." However, in 1977 in the foreword for a US National Research Council, Energy and Environment report he wrote, "What should the atmospheric carbon dioxide content be over the next century or two to achieve an optimum global climate?" [http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:zJ10cLfWBwUJ:www.wws.princeton.edu/~step/people/Art.2.Submitted.pdf+%22philip+abelson%22+%22global+warming%22&hl=en] Fact|date=February 2007, implying a level of connection between CO₂ and climate that would put him outside today's skeptic camp.

Dr. Abelson received many distinguished awards, including The President's National Medal of Science, the National Science Foundation's Distinguished Achievement Award, the American Medical Association's Scientific Achievement Award, the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal and the Waldo E. Smith Medal in 1988. In 1992 he was awarded the Public Welfare Medal, the National Academy of Science's highest honor.

Dr. Abelson's wife Neva Abelson (1910-2000) was a distinguished research physician who co-discovered the life-saving Rh blood factor test (with L.K. Diamond). Their daughter, Dr. Ellen Abelson Cherniavsky, now retired, worked as an aviation researcher at The MITRE Corporation in Virginia.

Philip Abelson died on August 1, 2004 from respiratory complications following a brief illness.

ee also

*Nuclear marine propulsion
*Submarine-launched ballistic missile

External links

* [http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:zJ10cLfWBwUJ:www.wws.princeton.edu/~step/people/Art.2.Submitted.pdf+%22philip+abelson%22+%22global+warming%22&hl=en History of the UNFCCC, demonstrating that in 1977 Abelson believed in a CO2-climate link]
* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9003318/Philip-Hauge-Abelson Encyclopaedia Britannica, Philip Abelson]
* [http://alsos.wlu.edu/qsearch.aspx?browse=people/Abelson,+Philip Annotated bibliography for Philip Abelson from the Alsos Digital Library for Nuclear Issues]
* [http://prola.aps.org/abstract/PR/v55/i4/p418_1 "Cleavage of the Uranium Nucleus", Physical Review, Received 3 February 1939]

References

*Citation
id = PMID:15297640
url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15297640
last=Kennedy
first=Donald
publication-date=2004 Aug 6
year=2004
title=In memoriam. Philip Hauge Abelson, 1913-2004.
volume=305
issue=5685
periodical=Science
pages=765
doi = 10.1126/science.305.5685.765
*Citation
id = PMID:7644722
url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7644722
publication-date=1995 Apr
year=1995
title=The International Society of Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology International Achievement Award.
volume=21
issue=2
periodical=Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol.
pages=325
doi = 10.1006/rtph.1995.1046
*Citation
id = PMID:17744766
url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17744766
last=Abelson
first=
publication-date=1994 Mar 18
year=1994
title=Need for Enhanced Nuclear Safeguards.
volume=263
issue=5153
periodical=Science
pages=1543
doi = 10.1126/science.263.5153.1543
*Citation
id = PMID:17836854
url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17836854
last=Abelson
first=
publication-date=1988 Jan 22
year=1988
title=Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuels in Nevada.
volume=239
issue=4838
periodical=
pages=333
doi = 10.1126/science.239.4838.333
*Citation
id = PMID:17808527
url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17808527
last=Abelson
first=
publication-date=1982 Oct 29
year=1982
title=Efforts to Decrease Nuclear Tensions.
volume=218
issue=4571
periodical=
pages=427
doi = 10.1126/science.218.4571.427
*Citation
id = PMID:17745713
url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17745713
last=Abelson
first=
publication-date=1976 Jul 23
year=1976
title=Glamorous Nuclear Fusion.
volume=193
issue=4250
periodical=Science
pages=279
doi = 10.1126/science.193.4250.279
*Citation
id = PMID:17792689
url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17792689
last=Abelson
first=
publication-date=1976 Mar 5
year=1976
title=A Global Rush Toward Nuclear Energy.
volume=191
issue=4230
periodical=
pages=901
doi = 10.1126/science.191.4230.901
*Citation
id = PMID:17770587
url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17770587
last=Abelson
first=
publication-date=1968 Jul 12
year=1968
title=Nuclear Power--Rosy Optimism and Harsh Reality.
volume=161
issue=3837
periodical=Science
pages=113
doi = 10.1126/science.161.3837.113
*Citation
id = PMID:17797430
url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17797430
last=Abelson
first=
publication-date=1966 May 6
year=1966
title=Factors Favoring Nuclear Power.
volume=152
issue=3723
periodical=
pages=703
doi = 10.1126/science.152.3723.703
*Citation
id = PMID:17729992
url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17729992
last=Abelson
first=
publication-date=1964 Nov 6
year=1964
title=Conventional versus Nuclear Power.
volume=146
issue=3645
periodical=Science
pages=719
doi = 10.1126/science.146.3645.719