December 1938
Two German scientists, Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassman, demonstrated nuclear
fission. They found they could split the nucleus of a uranium atom by
bombarding it with neutrons, the uncharged part of atoms. As the uranium
nucleus split, some of its mass was converted to energy.
News of the discovery spread through the scientific community. Other physicists
noticed the fission of one uranium atom gave off extra neutrons which could in
turn split other uranium atoms, starting a chain reaction. In theory, this
energy could be harnessed to make a powerful bomb.
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