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New Science Discovery
Hungarian physicist Leo Szilard realized that the neutron-drive fission of heavy atom could be used to create a nuclear chain reaction that could yield vast amounts at energy for electric power generation 'atomic bomb' -
The Germans publish 'Die Naturwissenschaften'
German chemist Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann sent a manuscript to Naturwissenschathen reporting they had detected the element barium after bombarding uranium with neutrons leading to a possible greater disaster discovery. -
Einstein Szilard letter
letter written by Leo Szilard in consultation with fellow Hungarian physicist Edward Teller 7 Eugene Wigner, signed by Albert Einstein. The letter was sent to U.S. President Roosevelt to warn him that Germany might develop atomic bombs and suggested the U.S, should start its own nuclear program. -
Advisory Committee on Uranium and Manhattan Project
Now serious about atomic bombs President Roosevelt asks director of National Bureau of Standards Lyman J. Briggs to create Advisory Committee on Uranium and work on the Manhattan Project. Their first meeting is held and includes Briggs, Lieutenant C. Adamson, Hoover, Briggs, Fred Mohler, Szilard, Wigner, and Edward Teller. -
National Defense Research Committee
organization created to coordinate, supervise, and conduct scientific research on the problems underlying the development, production, and use of mechanisms and devices of warfare. It's biggest project was the Manhattan Project to produce nuclear weapons for the United States -
Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, the base was attacked by the Imperial Japanese Navy airplanes and midget submarines, causing the American entry into World War II. One of the main reasons that Pearl Harbor happened was because the United States had major communication breakdowns among several branches of the U.S. armed services and departments of the U.S. government. This led to the surprise Japanese attack at the Hawaiian air base and the U.S joins WWII -
Welcome Oppenheimer
Compton asked theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer of the University of California, Berkeley, to take over research into fast neutron calculations—the key to calculations of critical mass and weapon detonation—from Gregory Breit, who had quit on 18 May 1942 because of concerns over lax operational security -
Scouting for a Place to Test bomb
Oppenheimer, Groves and others toured a prospective site to test the bomb. Oppenheimer feared that the high cliffs surrounding the site would make his people feel claustrophobic, while the engineers were concerned with the possibility of flooding. He then suggested and championed a site that he knew well: a flat mesa near Santa Fe, New Mexico, which was Los Alamos Ranch School. -
Interim Committee
created to advise and report on wartime and postwar policies regarding the use of nuclear energy which offered its opinion not just on the likely physical effects of an atomic bomb, but on its likely military and political impact.This included opinions on such sensitive issues as whether or not the Soviet Union should be advised of the weapon in advance of its use against Japan -
Trinity *Nuclear Test*
The first detonation of the nuclear weapon and test from Oppenheimer. The only structures originally in the vicinity were the McDonald Ranch House and its ancillary buildings, which scientists used as a laboratory for testing bomb components. A base camp was constructed, and there were 425 people present on the weekend of the test. -
Hiroshima
On Monday, August 6, 1945, at 8:15 a.m., the nuclear weapon "Little Boy" was dropped on Hiroshima by an American B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay, flown by Colonel Paul Tibbets, directly killing an estimated 70,000 people, including 20,000 Japanese combatants and 2,000 Korean slave laborers -
Nagasaki
On the morning of 9 August 1945, a second B-29 (Bockscar), piloted by the 393d Bombardment Squadron's commander, Major Charles W. Sweeney, lifted off with Fat Man on board. This time, Ashworth served as weaponeer and Kokura was the primary target. When they reached Kokura, they found cloud cover had obscured the city, prohibiting the visual attack required by orders. After three runs over the city, and with fuel running low, they headed for the secondary target, Nagasaki.
