Two things are infinite: the Universe and human stupidity and I’m not sure about the Universe. - Albert Einstein

This isn’t right, this isn’t even wrong. - Wolfgang Pauli

The power of the atom is the most lethal and awesome power known to man. The Manhattan Project was created in 1942 by President Harry Truman. The Purpose of the Manhattan Project was the designing and building of the first atomic bombs at Los Alamos to be used in WWII. At the time, this was a very controversial yet necessary endeavor. Many of the most brilliant scientists, including Fermi and Oppenheimer worked at Los Alamos on the Manhattan Project. The advancements that came out of the Manhattan Project were beyond many of those that came before. These advancements came in the fields of cosmology, quantum physics, astronomy, chemistry, and solid state physics. The Manhattan Project created advancements in science and technology, as well as the ability to end WWII sooner. On the other side, the Manhattan project also created the basics for the most destructive and horrific weapons known to man and brought about the threat of nuclear holocaust in our future. The advancements in science and technology outweigh the horrific and destructive powers created by the atomic bombs built during the Manhattan Project.

In 1941 Hitler approved a project to develop and build an atomic bomb. Their head scientist was Heisenburg, well known for his Heisenburg Uncertainty Principle concerning the behavior of electrons in atoms. He began working on a uranium chain reaction, as this was considered to be the most effective fuel for an atomic bomb. He created a chain reaction system similar to Fermi’s later design, using U235 and Deutrium (hard water). The reaction failed and blew itself up due to leaking of the deutrium into the U235. Because of the failed experiment and the knowledge that development would take much longer then predicted, Hitler canceled the project. In December 1942, Enrico Fermi created the first nuclear chain reaction in human history using U235 and Graphite blocks in his lab in Chicago. Many scientists, including Einstein, knew of Heisenburg’s work on the bomb. Because of this he wrote his now famous letter to President Harry Truman warning him of the effects of this atomic energy. This encouraged Truman in 1942 to create the Manhattan Project with the goal to develop the atomic bomb before the Germans could. In early 1943, Los Alamos was determined to be the location of the laboratory to design the first atomic bomb and Robert J. Oppenheimer was appointed scientific director of the project.

At Los Alamos military personal and scientists met for the first time. The labs and housing were hurriedly built and intense secrecy surrounded the site. The theory behind how the bomb was to work was already fairly well known due to the research of Fermi and others at Berkley who were creating the first plutonium. Some of the problems the scientists faced were how to reach critical mass, whether to use uranium or plutonium, how much material was needed, and how to make the bomb light enough to be carried in an airplane. The initial theory was to create a cannon that would shoot a piece of uranium into another piece, thus achieving critical mass. The problems with this were how much uranium was needed, the cannon was too heavy, and the reaction was either too fast or too slow. Their second theory was to create an implosion, which would compress two hollow hemispheres of plutonium about a neutron-emitting core, thus achieving critical mass. The problems with this design were achieving a balanced implosion, how much plutonium to use, and aligning the shock waves needed to uniformly compress the plutonium. Both designs were researched and carried out, both becoming usable bombs.

In the beginning, the scientists were not building a bomb; it was a race against Germany to build the bomb first. They started with enthusiasm, a team of the best scientists in the world, lead and motivated by Oppenheimer. It began with discussions of theories and ideas, a world of possibilities. While the scientists worked hard on solving problems, Oppenheimer fought his own battles with Major Groves, military director of the project. The security was tight and the rules were strict. This created tension between the scientists and Major Groves. Oppenheimer fought, and won some freedom for the scientists. As time wore on and continual problems arose, the tensions grew stronger and stress levels rose. Oppenheimer was able to hold the group together; focusing them on one problem at a time while easing the restrictions the military put on them.

Midway through the project war ended in Europe as Germany fell to the allies. This created a great relief for the scientists for they thought the project was over. However, the project was still to continue, as there was still war in the pacific. At this point many of the scientists began to voice their thoughts on if the use of the bomb is morally right and if they should continue to work on it. Scientists in Chicago wrote a petition to the President to appeal the righteousness of the project. Although it gathered many signatures, nothing ever became of the petition. Oppenheimer was able to keep his group on task as they were within weeks of the first test. Many of the scientists were questioning the morality of the project and had many different opinions on the project. Despite doubts of the project, work continued and the first bomb was nearing completion. One worker at Los Alamos commented when referring to the U235 plant in Oak Ridge Tennessee, "That place wasn’t built to make one or two bombs, it was made to make thousands of them, and pretty soon everyone will have bombs... is that the future you’re looking for? Cause that’s the future you’ve made for us."(Fat man and little boy) Many people though shared Oppenheimer’s general belief that the bomb "would put an end to wars."(Mason, P. 91) Whether or not the majority of scientists believed the project was morally right, the first bomb was completed in early July and taken to the trinity test site, about 200 miles south of Los Alamos.

On July 16, 1945, just before 5:30am the first ever atomic bomb was detonated at the trinity test site. The explosion was described by many. Enrico Fermi wrote:

"My first impression of the explosion was the very intense flash of light, and a sensation of heat on the parts of my body that were exposed. Although I did not look directly at the object, I had the impression that suddenly the countryside became brighter than in full day. I subsequently looked in the direction of the explosion through the dark glass and could see something that looked like a conglomeration of flames that promptly started rising. After a few seconds the rising flames lost their brightness and appeared as a huge pillar of smoke with an expended head like a gigantic mushroom that rose rapidly beyond the clouds, probably to a height of the order of 30,000 feet. After reaching full height, the smoke stayed stationary for a while before the wind started dispersing it."(Groueff, P. 356-357)

The bomb was beyond anything ever before experienced by man. As General Farrell put it, "Words are inadequate tools for acquainting those not present with the physical, mental, and psychological effects. It had to be witnessed to be realized."(Los Alamos, P. 53) Not all were completely awe struck though. Oppenheimer, ultimately the creator of the bomb, was reminded of a Quote when the bomb went off, "I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."(Los Alamos, P. 54) There were mixed feelings of excitement and remorse, awe and guilt. They knew that they had created a power that rivaled god. On august 6, 1945 the bomb called "Fat Man" was dropped on Hiroshima. On August 9, 1945 the bomb called "Little Boy" was dropped on Nagasaki. Five days later Japan gave up and ultimately surrendered on September 2, 1945 aboard the decks of the U.S.S. Missouri. The deaths of caused by the two bombs are estimated at 150,000.

The two bombs, fat man and little boy, brought an end to WWII at the cost of about 150,000 lives. Whether this act was morally correct is still debated. Many believe it was no more right or wrong than the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Undersecretary of War Robert Patterson stated:

"We still have a hard task ahead. Every worker employed on this project is needed! Every man-hour of work will help smash Japan and bring our fighting boys home. You know the kind of war we are up against in the pacific. Pearl Harbor-Bataan-Corregidor-Tarawa-Iwo Jima-and other bloody battles will never be forgotten. We have begun to repay the Japanese for their brutalities and their mass murders of helpless civilians and prisoners of war. We will not quit until they are completely crushed. You have an important part to play in their defeat. There must not be a let-up!"(Mason, P. 89)

Others believed that because of the huge civilian death caused by the bomb it was morally wrong. The choice President Truman had to make was to drop the bomb and kill 100,000 or invade Japan and risk the lives of millions. To him it was numbers, millions verses thousands. Although it is unproven, many believe that by dropping the bombs we saved lives. The war was still far from over and anything to end it was considered. Although the decision to drop the bombs may not have been morally correct, it was the right decision.

Destruction was not the only thing to come out of the Manhattan Project and its building of the atomic bombs. Many great scientific and technological advancements came out of the research and development done at Los Alamos. There were advancements in cosmology, astronomy, chemistry and many fields of physics. The scientific breakthroughs that occurred at Los Alamos were the stepping stones for further breakthroughs. They even changed the face of many fields of science.

Using data from the atomic explosions at trinity and those that followed gave cosmologists a glimpse at what occurred during the big bang. By studying the atomic explosions cosmologists have gained a greater understanding of what exactly happened during the big bang. They are now able to explain the physics of the big bang from just tenths of seconds after it occurred. This was phenomenal in the field of cosmology. It also gave us a greater understanding of the Universe in how it expands and how matter behaves in the Universe.

In the field of astronomy the data from the atomic explosions gave us a greater understanding of what goes on in stars like our own sun. Inside of stars, nuclear fusion occurs where hydrogen (H) is converted to helium (He) creating vast amounts of energy. This reaction is similar to the fission that occurs in atomic bombs, and later hydrogen bombs. By observing data from these explosions we have gained a greater knowledge of how our sun works, as well as its lifetime and age. The data has also helped us understand the violent deaths of stars. The field of solar astronomy has gained an amazing amount of knowledge from the atomic explosions.

The first chain reaction and the first nuclear fission were products of the Manhattan Project. These experiments and the data they provided had huge effects in the field of chemistry. It gave us a greater understanding of radiation and its effects. It also gave us greater understanding of atoms, molecules and their behavior. Also, new methods were developed in order to separate U235 from its natural U238. One of these methods was creating a uranium hexafluoride gas and using a filtering process to get U235. This worked, but not too well as the uranium hexafluoride gas was extremely corrosive and caused damage to the pipes and filters used to separate the U235 from the natural U238. A major discovery that came from the Manhattan Project was the creation of plutonium; a radioactive element which does not exists naturally. To create plutonium they shot accelerated particles at U238, which caused a reaction and created the element plutonium. This did not make very much plutonium however, and the first nuclear reactor was built in order to create more free particles to bombard the uranium with and make plutonium. Through the need for radioactive material, the field of chemistry gained knowledge about accelerated particles and their reactions with molecules, as well as new combining and filtering techniques.

Perhaps the most advancements were made in the field of physics. There were advancements made in particle physics, solid state physics, nuclear physics, atomic physics, and theoretical physics. The first particle accelerator was built to create plutonium for the bombs built during the Manhattan Project. They also designed and built an electromagnet capable of separating U235 from U238 by using the very slight momentum differences between the two. Knowledge of how atoms work and behave came from the project as well. The field of nuclear physics came from the research done during the Manhattan Project. Through their research the first nuclear reactors were made which our current nuclear reactors are modeled after. Nuclear reactors are now in our everyday lives, in our power plants, our navy ships and submarines, and some satellites. New explosives were developed by the Manhattan Project to achieve a uniform implosion. The research on these explosives are now used to make explosives for use and construction, demolition, and the military. Through the research and development done during the Manhattan Project, many advances in physics were made which effect the field and our lives today.

Along with many advancements in science and technology came the threat of nuclear war. Following the end of WWII the Russians began their quest for nuclear power, finally achieving it in the 1950’s. This began the cold war that lasted well into the 1980’s. The cold war was a race for technology, who could build the better weapon first. In the 1960’s Russia transferred nuclear missiles to Cuba, creating the Cuban missile crisis. This was the first time America felt the threat of nuclear missiles being aimed at us. The fear of nuclear war swept through the country as schools created nuclear bomb (duck and cover) drills and families built bomb shelters in their backyards. In the 1970’s China detonated their first atomic bomb and entered the nuclear powers. Now there are many nuclear missiles floating around third world countries from the breakup of Russia. On the bright side, out of the cold war came advancements in science and technology, as well as the space program, who’s greatest achievement was landing men on the moon and safely returning them to Earth.

No matter what happens in our future atomic energy and nuclear weapons will play a role in it. These weapons and the ones that followed contain a power greater then any other known on Earth. The creation of the atomic bombs at Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project was perhaps morally wrong, however it was still the right thing to do. The lives saved from ending the war sooner easily outweigh the amount of lives lost from the two bombs, fat man and little boy. The advancements and discoveries in science were beyond many that came before them. These advancements in science and technology clearly outweigh the destructiveness created by the bombs. The discoveries made during the Manhattan Project opened the door for many future discoveries and amazing improvements in technology. The discovery of atomic power brought about a new age in our history, the atomic age. We can never go back and un-invent the atomic bomb so now we must be responsible with what we created. The world is what we make of it, and atomic power can be a great thing or a horrible thing, dependent only on ourselves. What we do with this power will determine our future, and perhaps our extinction.

Groueff, Stephane The Manhattan Project

Mason, Katrin Children of Los Alamos

Los Alamos Historical Society, Los Alamos: Begining of an Era 1943-1945

Paramount Pictures Fat Man and Little Boy

Visual Concept Entertainment Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie