Sam White | |
|---|---|
| Born | Clayton Samuel White October 11, 1912 Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S. |
| Died | April 26, 2004 (aged 91) Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Other names | Clayton Samuel |
| Education | University of Colorado Boulder Hertford College, Oxford University of Colorado School of Medicine |
| Occupation(s) | Physician, researcher |
| Known for | Research on effects of nuclear bombs Developing the field of blast and shock biology Discovery of air emboli as a cause of death in blast injury |
| Spouse |
Margaret Reeve (m. 1941) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Byron R. White (brother) |
Clayton "Sam" Samuel White (October 11, 1912 – April 26, 2004) was an American physician, nuclear physicist, and medical researcher best known for developing the field of "blast and shock biology" which explored the effects of blast and shock waves from atomic bombs and other explosions. By bringing together the disciplines of mathematics, physics, biology, and anatomy, White measured the impact of atomic weapons on physical structures and the human body.[1][2][3]
His studies, many of which were conducted at above-ground nuclear weapons tests at the Nevada Test Site, paved the way for precision bombing in support of troops in the field and helped determine how to build adequate bomb shelters and treat blast victims.[1][4][5]
White studied the biological effects of inhaling small fission particles produced by nuclear tests in a related field. He also examined, with "remarkable prescience,"[1] the environmental impact of consumer aerosol products on the atmosphere and the health risks of inhaling man-made fibers, diesel exhaust, and other substances.
Another area of White's focus was the physiological effect of the high atmosphere on the human body. His research in aviation medicine contributed significantly to the exhaustive physiological and psychological tests conducted in 1959 on the thirty-two candidates competing to become the Mercury Seven astronauts, as depicted in the book and film The Right Stuff.[1][5]
White's younger brother, Byron Raymond White, served as an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1962 to 1993 and as Deputy Attorney General under John F. Kennedy.[6]