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You’ve heard of the Manhattan Project…
But did you know that it featured secret cities, some of the world’s most famous scientists, and $22 billion in government funding?
Time for a thread on the most consequential government project in history
But did you know that it featured secret cities, some of the world’s most famous scientists, and $22 billion in government funding?
Time for a thread on the most consequential government project in history
1) In 1939, US President Roosevelt received a letter written by physicist Leo Szilard and co-signed by none other than Albert Einstein.
The letter warned that Germany was building an atomic bomb and suggested that the US should launch its own nuclear program.
The letter warned that Germany was building an atomic bomb and suggested that the US should launch its own nuclear program.
2) So, the US government began supporting nuclear research at universities.
The goal was initially just to see whether it was even possible to build a nuclear weapon.
But after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, efforts ramped up… (This was when the US officially joined WWII.)
The goal was initially just to see whether it was even possible to build a nuclear weapon.
But after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, efforts ramped up… (This was when the US officially joined WWII.)
3) In June 1942, a top-secret project began out of an office building in Manhattan. It was given the unsuspicious name “Manhattan Engineer District”, or “Manhattan Project” for short.
It was soon decided that New York City wasn’t the best place for privacy. Enter, secret cities.
It was soon decided that New York City wasn’t the best place for privacy. Enter, secret cities.
4) Within a few months, the US government built three entirely new cities across the US: Oak Ridge in Tennessee, Hanford in Washington, and Los Alamos in New Mexico.
The surprising part?
You couldn’t find these cities on maps.
The surprising part?
You couldn’t find these cities on maps.
5) These secret cities existed solely to support the effort to build a nuclear weapon.
They soon blossomed into real communities with a total population of 125,000.
The most interesting part?
Most people didn’t even know they were aiding the development of an atomic bomb!
They soon blossomed into real communities with a total population of 125,000.
The most interesting part?
Most people didn’t even know they were aiding the development of an atomic bomb!
6) In fact, not even Vice President Truman knew of the project’s existence.
He was only briefed on US development of a nuclear weapon when he became President after the death of President Roosevelt.
He was only briefed on US development of a nuclear weapon when he became President after the death of President Roosevelt.
7) On July 16, 1945, the Los Alamos laboratory successfully detonated the world’s first atomic bomb.
The explosion sent a 40,000 foot mushroom cloud into the sky, created a half-mile wide crater, and blew out windows of houses up to 100 miles away.
The explosion sent a 40,000 foot mushroom cloud into the sky, created a half-mile wide crater, and blew out windows of houses up to 100 miles away.
8) The US government covered up by claiming that an ammunition dump had exploded.
This detonation became known as the Trinity Test and marks the beginning of the Atomic Age.
This detonation became known as the Trinity Test and marks the beginning of the Atomic Age.
9) While watching the explosion, physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer quoted a Hindu text: “I have become death, destroyer of worlds.”
His quote came true ten days later, when Roosevelt issued an ultimatum to Japan: surrender or face “utter destruction".
Japan declined to surrender.
His quote came true ten days later, when Roosevelt issued an ultimatum to Japan: surrender or face “utter destruction".
Japan declined to surrender.
10) On August 6 1945, the US dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
Three days later, the US dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, after which Japan surrendered.
The initial blasts killed around 100,000 people and thousands more died the following months
Three days later, the US dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, after which Japan surrendered.
The initial blasts killed around 100,000 people and thousands more died the following months
11) No nuclear weapons have since been detonated during war.
12) If you learned something, you should check out BrainFeed, the internet’s most interesting email that explains everything you should know in 4-minute bites.
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