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Enrico Fermi unknowingly achieves the world's first nuclear fission.
Enrico Fermi of Italy irradiates uranium with neutrons. He believes he has produced the first transuranic element, but unknowingly achieves the world's first nuclear fission. -
Albert Einsten writes to President Roosevelt about creating an Atomic Bomb
Einstein and several other scientists told Roosevelt of efforts in Nazi Germany to purify uranium-235, which could be used to build an atomic bomb. -
Roosevelt grants the Manhattan district $2 Billion to build the atom bomb.
The day before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt authorizes the Manhattan Engineering District with $2 billion to build the atom bomb. -
First controlled nuclear reaction
At the University of Chicago, in a squash court under Stagg Field, Enrico Fermi and his team produce the world's first controlled and self-sustained nuclear fission reaction. -
Colonol Leslie Groves is put in charge of the Manhattan Project
Colonel Leslie Groves is promoted to Brigadier-General and put in charge of the Manhattan Project. He recruits J. Robert Oppenheimer as Scientific Director. -
Military begins remodeling the bombs.
The US Military begin remodeling the B-29 bomber for the delivery of the A-bomb. Bomb's sizes are decided: "Thin Man" representing Roosevelt and "Fat Boy" for Churchill. -
Military port goes up in explosion
Important military port in the San Francisco Bay goes up in a horrific explosion killing 323 men, disintegrating two ships and an entire train. Calculations and declassified documents lead to a possible US test firing of a nuclear weapon. -
Bombs go off in Japan
Little Boy explodes over Hiroshima killing over 100,000 people. Three days later, Fat Man explodes over Nagasaki killing 75,000. Japan surrenders soon after.
