The historic site was interesting and the kids got their Junior Ranger badges, but the associated Bradbury Science Museum was the place to go to learn the history of the project.
The Manhattan Project was a product of the United States government working to develop the atomic bomb. There is a lot of controversy over its development and use, but I think we can all agree that while it is a fascinating leap in the knowledge of physics, the world would probably be better off without it. But, Pandora’s Box is open, so learning about its history is important.
The Project originated at an international gathering of scientists during WWII. A physicist named Leo Szilard approached Albert Einstein and discussed how Relativity had an obscure associated theory. Radioactive material was discovered by Marie Curie a few decades before, and the new knowledge of physics suggested the compression of the unstable radioactive atoms could cause an explosion orders of magnitude larger than anything that existed. There were two German scientists in attendance that had knowledge of the theory. Szilard was concerned about the NAZI’s obtaining such a weapon and it could result in world domination. He urged Einstein to use his public fame to write a letter to Pres. Roosevelt to asking that the issue be addressed.
This resulted in the creation of the Manhattan Project. It was a very tight-lipped secret. Sites were created in Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Chicago; a uranium mine in Canada; and Los Alamos, New Mexico. The first sustained nuclear reaction was in a brick building in Chicago. While this reaction did not create the compression necessary for a nuclear explosion (called critical mass), they realized that testing such materials in an area with a significant population may not be the best idea. Scientists are brilliant when realizing these things. Oak Ridge and Los Alamos, very rural areas, thus became the focal points of the project.
As understanding of the principle progressed, a test was conducted in the New Mexico desert. Nobody had any idea what would happen, and believe it or not the physicists estimated that there was a 2% chance that the explosion would ignite the atmosphere and cause a chain reaction that would burn it away completely and destroy the planet. And…they tested it anyway. I hope that frightens you a little bit…or more than a little bit. The government and scientists were willing to kill everything on the planet to develop a new weapon. That…is…crazy!
To this day Los Alamos is a center of nuclear research, although they no longer test bombs. I would absolutely suggest a visit to the Bradbury Museum if you are in the area. It is free of charge and is a great learning experience. The surrounding town and landscape is also beautiful.
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