In the 1950s, Professor Paul Kuroda of the University of Arkansas' Department of Chemistry predicted that self-sustaining nuclear chain reactions could have occurred naturally in earth's geologic history. In 1972, his prediction was confirmed when scientists discovered a natural nuclear reactor in Gabon, Africa. In 1960, he predicted the existence of Plutonium-244 as an element present during the solar system's formation. Confirmation of his theory enabled scientists to more accurately date the sequence of events in the solar system's early history. Kuroda's two papers on these topics were featured in "The 20th Century's 85 Benchmark Papers in Nuclear Chemistry," edited by Nobel laureate Glenn Seaborg.
This marker is located at the main entrance to the Chemistry Building.
Year Placed: 2000