Wormwood Forest: A Natural History of Chernobyl.WORMWOOD wormwood, Mediterranean perennial herb or shrubby plant (Artemisia absinthium) of the family Asteraceae (aster family), often cultivated in gardens and found as an escape in North America. It has silvery gray, deeply incised leaves and tiny yellow flower heads. FOREST: A Natural History of Chernobyl MARY MYCIO The explosion of a nuclear reactor in Chernobyl in 1986 spewed tons of radioactive debris for miles. The area around Chernobyl, including parts of Russia, the Ukraine, and Belarus, was evacuated e·vac·u·ate v. e·vac·u·at·ed, e·vac·u·at·ing, e·vac·u·ates v.tr. 1. a. To empty or remove the contents of. b. To create a vacuum in. 2. . A newspaper reporter of Ukrainian heritage and with a law degree, Mycio visited the zone several times, starting in 1989. The author describes donning protective gear and moving through various hot spots hot spots acute moist dermatitis. . To her astonishment, she found that wildlife flourished in the area. She explains the nature of the different radioisotopes released in the accident, examines plants for signs of mutations, and catalogs the rare birds and mammals that have repopulated the area. Her final assessment is surprisingly optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op . Though radioactive, the zone stands in stark contrast to the barren landscape typically envisioned for a postapocalyptic world. Joseph Henry Press, 2005, 259 p., hardcover, $27.95. |
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