In 1962, Rachel Carson published “Silent Spring,” her groundbreaking exposure of the environmental harms posed by the mosquito-killing pesticide DDT. Informed by her alarm over the atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, Carson’s work challenged prevailing assumptions about chemical safety and helped birth the modern environmental movement. A new PBS documentary premiering on January 24 examines Carson’s writing, research and the challenges she faced as a woman taking on one of the country’s most powerful industries. We preview the film.
New PBS Documentary Explores the Private and Public Lives of Rachel Carson
In 1962, Rachel Carson published Silent Spring, her groundbreaking exposure of the environmental harms posed by the mosquito-killing pesticide DDT. Informed by her alarm over the atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, Carson's work challenged prevailing assumptions about chemical safety and contributed to the birth of the modern environmental movement. A new PBS documentary, scheduled to premiere on January 24, examines Carson's writing, research, family life and the challenges she faced as a woman taking on one of the country's most powerful industries. We preview the film.
51:37
Rachel Carson on her porch in Southport, Maine, 1955.
(Photo: Courtesy of Martha Freeman)
Guests:
William Souder, author, "On a Farther Shore: The Life and Legacy of Rachel Carson"