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Timeline of Sheinkin's Book
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Hahn's Uranium Experiment
Using radioactive elements, Hahn showed atomic nuclei breaking apart and releasing energy from fission. data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBxMTEhQSERITExMXGRUSGBgXExcWFxcYFRgXFxgaFRkYHCglHRslGxQXITIhJik3Li4uFx8zODMsNygtLisBCgoKDg0OGhAQGy8mICQsLCwsMiwyLCwsLS8sLCwsLCwsLDQsNCw0LCwsLCwsLCw0LCwsLC8sLC8sNCwsLCwsLP/AABEIALABHgMBEQACEQEDEQH/xAAbAAEAAgMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAUDBgcCAf/EAEYQAAIBAgQDBQQFCQUIAwAAAAECAAMRBAUSIRMxQQYiUWFxBxQygVJTYpHUFSMzQlRyobHBFjSTlJVDY4KDktHh8ESisv/EABoB -
Eistein writes warning letter to President Roosevelt
Rossevelt begins the research program for the fission bomb out of fear that the Nazis will build one first. -
Manhattan Project
The project to build an atomic bomb begins. Robert Oppenheimer will later become known as the 'Father of the Bomb'. -
Chicago Pile Chain Reaction Test
Fermi's demonstration beneath the University of Chicago stadium showcases the fission trait of uranium on a large scale. The fission from one atom resulted in energy to produce more fission. In the right conditions, uranium could be used to make a very powerful bomb. -
Vermork Heavy Water Plant Explosion
Norwegian freedom fighters destroy a facility used by the Germans to create heavy water. The water was so critical to the bomb-making process that it prevented the Germans from getting a nuclear weapon. -
Germany Surrenders
Hiter commits suicide. Nazi Germany is defeated. Berlin surrenders May 2. -
Los Alamos Atomic Weapon Test
In the desert of New Mexico, the experimental test exploded with the force of 18,000 pounds of TNT. The sand around the explosion was turned to green glass from immense temperatures. -
Hiroshima Bombing
The first bomb, "Little Boy', was dropped on Japan by Paul Tibbets from the Enola Gay. The damage was disasterous. Japan's leaders were split on deciding to surrender. The Japanese would not surrender until after the second bomb. -
Japanese Surrender
The second nuclear bomb's destruction led the emperor to push Japan to surrender the war effort. -
First Soviet Atomic Bomb Test
Soviet scientists in Kazakhistan surprise the Americans with their progress in creating an atomic bomb. This is the first dangerous step in the nulear arms race. -
Vietnam War
The conflicts turned into proxy wars in Korea, Vietnam, and others. Pressure between the United States and Soviet Union was building. -
Karl Fuchs Leaves Prison
One of the spies for the Soviets during the Manhatten Project went free from prison in England. His crimes were giving secrets to an ally. -
Nuclear Proliferation
After World War 2 and the Cold War, the spread of nuclear weapons continued. This is a current map showing nuclear powers in red and nations with some nuclear weapons in gold. -
End of the Soviet Union
The Soviet Union breaks apart leaving the United States as the sole superpower. -
Cold War 2.0?
After a more peaceful warming period between the West and Russia, conflicts in the current political climate have increased tensions. Russian annexation of Crimea from Ukraine is cause for concern for many nations of the world.
