Secret science

NOV 01, 1950

The tug‐of‐war between requirements for security controls over scientific information and need for the kind of openness that will permit scientific progress has in the atomic energy program been refereed by scientists themselves. For those who have had to stand by helplessly while their papers were being digested by the complex machinery of the “declassification program” the following article may make the process seem less mysterious and aggravating.

DOI: 10.1063/1.3066703

John H. Manley

Science has been a traditionally open subject, and as such it has played an important role in fostering friendly relations between men of all nationalities through their common interest in scientific matters. Free exchange of information, criticism, and comment has been a real and vital part of scientific tradition throughout the world. This is no longer the case. In this country and abroad considerable portions of biology, chemistry, mathematics, medicine, metallurgy, and physics are advancing in a secrecy imposed by law. Restrictions are placed on discussion not only of basic scientific information but also on many associated technologies which play an important role in shaping thought on matters of national significance.

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More about the authors

John H. Manley, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.