Nuclear Power

Martin Kalproth

Sep 17, 1789

Martin Kalproth discovers uranium.

Willhelm Rontgen

Jun 28, 1895

Willhelm Rotgen discovers X-rays.

Henri Becquerel

Apr 5, 1896

Henri Becquerel discovers radoiacivity

Joseph John Thompson

Feb 12, 1897

Josep John Thompson identifies the electron.

Niels Bohr

Mar 11, 1913

Neils Bohr introuduces his model for the radioactive atom.

Ernest Rutherford

Jul 9, 1919

Ernest Rutherford becomes the first person to split the atom

James Chadwick

Feb 15, 1932

James Chadwick discovers the neutron.

Enrico Fermi

Sep 27, 1934

Enrico Fermi bombards uranium with neutrons

Scientists in the USA

Dec 20, 1939

Scientists in the USA, Denmark and France independently confirm phenomenon of nuclear fission.

Enrico Fermi

Dec 2, 1942

Enrico Fermi demonstrates the world's first nuclear reactor in Chicago, USA on December 2

First atomic bomb

May 6, 1945

The first atomic bomb is tested in New Mexico, USA. The first atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, followed by a second atomic bomb, dropped on Nagasak, Japan.

Atomic Energy

Mar 13, 1946

The atomic energt reasearch establishment is set up at Harwell, UK.

First nuclear reactor

May 17, 1947

The first nuclear reactor in Western Europe {GLEEP, or Graphite low energy experimental Pile } is constructed at Harwell, UK.

President Dwight Eisenhower

Apr 10, 1953

President Dwight Eisenhower of the USA makes his Atoms for Peace speech at the united nations general assembley.

First commercial nuclear power plant

Feb 9, 1956

The world's first commercial nuclear power plant commisioned at
Calder Hall, Cumbrria in the UK.

First large nuclear acciedent

Jun 13, 1957

The first large nuclear acciedent takes place with a fire and radation leak at the Windscale reactor in the UK. The international atomic energy agency is set up by the united nations.

Nuclear non-proliferation

Oct 27, 1970

The nuclear non-proliferation treaty comes into force.

Joint European Torus

Nov 11, 1978

The joint Europoean Torus {JET} fusion project begins at Culham, UK.

Acciedent three Mile island

Aug 19, 1979

Acciedent at the three Mile island nuclear power station in the USA.

Reactor three mile islland

May 12, 1985

The reactor at the Three Mile island is restarted.

Meltown occures at Chernobly

Feb 28, 1986

A meltdown occurs at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in the Ukraine.

Despite protest from around the world

Jul 16, 1995

Despite protests from around the world, French scientists carry out underground nuclear test explosians in the South Pacific.