Fred J. McCall wrote in message . ..
"Carey Sublette" wrote:

:
:"Fred J. McCall" wrote in message
.. .
: "Carey Sublette" wrote:
:
: :In Stalin's day of course he would have grown radioactive wheat and fed it
: :to the population.
:
: Note that this is what they are doing right now with produce from the
: Chernobyl area.
:
: :It would have saved them from starvation and immediate
: :death, but given them a lifespan much reduced from normal.
:
: People grossly overestimate the effects of radiation. Not so much
: reduced at all. A few years lower on average, at most.
:
:I believe you underestimate how radioactive the wheat would have been in
:fields downwind from a few hundred 400 kt ground bursts. This would be
:1000-10,000 times more contaminated than any from Chernobyl.

Nonsense. The radiation in the fallout zone may initially be that
much worse, but wheat is not going to pick that up in proportion. And
you still seem to be grossly overestimating the effects of radiation.
What do you think the reduction in lifespan is for folks who move into
the fallout zone?

What part of 1961 did you wander in from?

1962
Silent Spring published; documented the effect of chemicals on the
environment. (more)

Discovered breeding line that could restore fertility to male-sterile
wheat plants.

Library collection of USDA designated as National Agricultural
Library.

Cereal leaf beetle discovered to be established in Michigan.

Purified and structurally identified three soluble ribonucleic acids
(RNAs). (more)

Developed method for built-in permanent creases for wool trousers.

First laboratory test developed to detect bluetongue neutralizing
antibody.

Released four inbred lines that resulted in first commercial
production of hybrid seed of pearl millet.

Developed methods using calcium to remove strontium-90 radioactivity
from wheat and milk.

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/timeline/1960chron.htm