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Originally Posted by oldE
Does anyone else recall an article from either Popular Mechanics or Mechanics Illustrated from the late '50s or early '60s which touted research into irradiated crops and livestock? Supposedly they were looking for genetic modifications which might lead to better yields. ( Probably not looking to pre cook a cow.)
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Dunno on how they might have used radiation to modify yield - but the Soviets' pursuit of irradiating produce (particularly grain) led to countless poorly documented and traced very scary gamma sources spread across their lands.
The fall of the USSR left hanging many problems. One lesser known one was what to do with those sources. In response, a pretty huge program in the DOE was the Source Recovery Program, I think in coordination with the IAEA. It was never in an area where I could contribute but numerous colleagues that specialized in remote sensing of things nuclear and the stabilization/packing/transport of such things got to go on what sounded like really cool trips to exotic places. Austere, fascinating and grueling were descriptions that they brought back. I don't know if they're done yet, and if not I fear that the current political environment might derail what has been a huge and successful international collaboration.
That said - I understand radiological risks. Since I accept air transport, medical imaging and eating bananas in my life I think a few radioactive wasps aren't any more scary than average wasps.