History of Uranium receives a less than glowing analysis

Uranium's long and winding history leaves a radioactive path in its wake.

For anyone even the least bit connected with the world, you've probably heard of nuclear power - after all, it runs power plants, creates medical isotopes and even powers space probes.

The history behind all of this is a fascinating one, detailing the first uses of the strange element that was first discarded as useless, misunderstood as a healing device (protip: radiation is not a very nice thing to bathe yourself in), and finally used as a hugely important source of energy.

While Uranium isn't the be-all and end-all of our power problems like some would claim, it is a very good tool to use that has shaped the way our society has evolved, and the impacts of its introduction can't be ignored.

It's a bit weighted towards America, completely ignoring some main points of the history (but as we know history is determined mostly by the victors who can change it to suit them better).

Take a little time out of your afternoon, and give the full summary a read over at io9.

Who knows, you might even learn something in the process!