Timeline of Nuclear Weapons

  • E=mc^2

    E=mc^2
    Einstein calculated the energy released in an atomic bomb with his famous equation.
  • Leo Szilard patents the idea of nuclear chain reaction

    Leo Szilard patents the idea of nuclear chain reaction
    Leo Szilard patents the idea of a nuclear chain reaction in London, which would be a main component of the nuclear bomb
  • Discovery of Nuclear Fission

    Discovery of Nuclear Fission
    Lise Meitner and Otto Frisch discovered nuclear fission near Christmas time, which would be a key part of the nuclear bomb.
  • Roosevelt Approves Atomic Bomb

    Roosevelt Approves Atomic Bomb
    Roosevelt received the cost for the creation of the atomic bomb and approved the project, making the United States the first country to attempt the creation of the atomic bomb
  • Trinity Test

    Trinity Test
    The bomb known as "the gadget," marks the first use of a nuclear weapon in history. The test was conducted at Alamogordo, New Mexico.
  • Soviets test first atomic bomb

    Soviets test first atomic bomb
    The Soviets conduct their first nuclear bomb test. They called the bomb "First Lightning."
  • Americans create Nuclear Tipped Rockets

    Americans create Nuclear Tipped Rockets
    The Americans tested their first nuclear tipped rocket, which brought a whole new level of warfare in the world.
  • Soviets detonate most powerful nuclear weapon ever

    Soviets detonate most powerful nuclear weapon ever
    The Soviet detonate "Tsar Bomba," the biggest nuclear weapon that has ever been used in a test.
  • China detonates hydrogen bomb

    China detonates hydrogen bomb
    China detonates first hydrogen bomb. Hydrogen bombs were very powerful weapon that strengthened China's arsenal.