March 2021 issue

Volume 66, Issue 3

One decade ago, on 11 Mar. 2011, a massive earthquake and its ensuing tsunami triggered explosions in three nuclear reactors at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi plant. The explosions released radioactive cesium-137 (Cs-137), contaminating the water and soils of Japan's Fukushima Prefecture. In this article, we talk about the science behind Cs-137's affinity for the clay in Japanese soils and how scientists are helping the residents of Fukushima restore their farmland and recover their livelihoods. See story on p. 14. The cover photo shows a 90-year-old farmer enjoying harvesting for the first time in a long time, on 5 Oct. 2013 at Maeda, Iitate Village, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Photo by Masaru Mizoguchi.