The atomic whirl is a symbol of science and has come to be used as the worldwide symbol of

atheism Atheism, in the broadest sense, is an absence of belief in the Existence of God, existence of Deity, deities. Less broadly, atheism is a rejection of the belief that any deities exist. In an even narrower sense, atheism is specifically the ...

in general. The atomic whirl is based on the historical

Rutherford model The Rutherford model is a name for the first model of an atom with a compact nucleus. The concept arose from Ernest Rutherford discovery of the nucleus. Rutherford directed the Geiger–Marsden experiment in 1909, which showed much more alpha ...

of the atom, which erroneously showed the orbital paths of

electron The electron (, or in nuclear reactions) is a subatomic particle with a negative one elementary charge, elementary electric charge. It is a fundamental particle that comprises the ordinary matter that makes up the universe, along with up qua ...

s around the central

nucleus Nucleus (: nuclei) is a Latin word for the seed inside a fruit. It most often refers to: *Atomic nucleus, the very dense central region of an atom *Cell nucleus, a central organelle of a eukaryotic cell, containing most of the cell's DNA Nucleu ...

, and not on the

atomic orbitals In quantum mechanics, an atomic orbital () is a function describing the location and wave-like behavior of an electron in an atom. This function describes an electron's charge distribution around the atom's nucleus, and can be used to calc ...

. It resembles the authoritative logos and symbols of the

United States Atomic Energy Commission The United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by the U.S. Congress to foster and control the peacetime development of atomic science and technology. President Harry ...

and the

International Atomic Energy Agency The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an intergovernmental organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear technology, nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. It was ...

who also based their designs on the Rutherford Model. The symbol was adapted by the

American Atheists American Atheists is a non-profit organization in the United States dedicated to defending the civil liberties of atheists and advocating complete separation of church and state. It provides speakers for colleges, universities, clubs, and th ...

organization to symbolize that "only through the use of scientific analysis and free, open inquiry can humankind reach out for a better life". In this version, the lower part of the central loop is left open or "broken" to represent the fact that atheists accept that while they rely on the

scientific method The scientific method is an Empirical evidence, empirical method for acquiring knowledge that has been referred to while doing science since at least the 17th century. Historically, it was developed through the centuries from the ancient and ...

, they are searching for the answers, and in some cases, further questions.

Approved emblem of belief (US)

This symbol (with an added 'A' in the center) is one of the permitted " Emblems of Belief" that the

United States Department of Veterans Affairs The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with providing lifelong healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers an ...

allows on government-furnished headstones and markers.US VA Approved emblems of belief list
/ref>

References

Atheism activism Logos {{atheism-stub

Approved emblem of belief (US)

See also

References