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Martin Kalproth discovers uranium.
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Willhelm Rotgen discovers X-rays.
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Henri Becquerel discovers radoiacivity
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Josep John Thompson identifies the electron.
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Neils Bohr introuduces his model for the radioactive atom.
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Ernest Rutherford becomes the first person to split the atom
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James Chadwick discovers the neutron.
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Enrico Fermi bombards uranium with neutrons
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Scientists in the USA, Denmark and France independently confirm phenomenon of nuclear fission.
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Enrico Fermi demonstrates the world's first nuclear reactor in Chicago, USA on December 2
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The first atomic bomb is tested in New Mexico, USA. The first atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, followed by a second atomic bomb, dropped on Nagasak, Japan.
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The atomic energt reasearch establishment is set up at Harwell, UK.
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The first nuclear reactor in Western Europe {GLEEP, or Graphite low energy experimental Pile } is constructed at Harwell, UK.
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President Dwight Eisenhower of the USA makes his Atoms for Peace speech at the united nations general assembley.
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The world's first commercial nuclear power plant commisioned at
Calder Hall, Cumbrria in the UK. -
The first large nuclear acciedent takes place with a fire and radation leak at the Windscale reactor in the UK. The international atomic energy agency is set up by the united nations.
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The nuclear non-proliferation treaty comes into force.
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The joint Europoean Torus {JET} fusion project begins at Culham, UK.
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Acciedent at the three Mile island nuclear power station in the USA.
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The reactor at the Three Mile island is restarted.
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A meltdown occurs at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in the Ukraine.
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Despite protests from around the world, French scientists carry out underground nuclear test explosians in the South Pacific.