WWII, episode 13: The Manhattan Project

About this episode

This episode surveys the history surrounding the formation and conclusion of the Manhattan Project during World War II.

World War II came to a radically-unpredictable conclusion when Japan was bombed - twice - by the most powerful individual weapons ever used on human beings. The scientific knowledge necessary to accomplish the creation of the atomic bomb was only made possible a few short years before this when non-Nazi Germany scientists discovered nuclear fission in 1938. Determined to unlock the power of the atom before Hitler could, the United States & the United Kingdom got quickly to work - eventually combining their efforts - to master the chemistry, physics, engineering, industry, and logistics necessary (costing $2 Billion in 1945 money) to create the first nuclear weapons. This episode does not attempt to explain the bombs on a scientific level. Rather, we will survey the history surrounding the formation, the maintenance, and the successful conclusion of the Manhattan Project.

People in this episode

Host: Will Reitz

Topics covered

• World War II
• Manhattan Project
• nuclear fission
• atomic bomb
• history of science
• military logistics

Keywords

• Manhattan Project
• atomic bomb
• nuclear fission
• World War II
• Hitler
• United States
• United Kingdom
• scientific history
• military technology

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: United States, United Kingdom

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