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Heavy hydrogen or deuterium is discovered by Harold C. Urey.
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The atom is split by John Crockcroft
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Leo Szilard realizes the possibility of the nuclear chain reaction
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The first nulcear fission is achieved by Enrico Fermi of Italy.
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Niels Bohr announces the discovery of fission
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Robert Oppenheimer realizes the military possibilities of nuclear fission.
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Albert Einstein writes to President about the use of Uranium as a new source of energy.
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World War II begins
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Plutonium is discovered by Glenn Seaborg.
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FDR gives the go-ahead for the develpment of the atomic weapon
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FDR authorizes the Manhattan Engineering District for the purpose of creating an atomic bomb. This would later be called the 'Manhattan Project'.
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Colonel Leslie Groves is placed in charge of the Manhattan Project. J. Robert Oppenheimer becomes the Project's Scientific Director.
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First controlled nuclear fussion reaction is produced by Enrico Fermi at the University of Chicago
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Japan becomes primary target for future atomic bomb
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Target committee of the project select four cities as targets for the atomic bomb.
Cities: Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kokura, and Niigata. -
The world's first atomic detonation takes place in the 'Trinity Test' at Alamogordo, New Mexico.
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President Truman orders atomic bombs to be used.
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Japan announces its formal surrender.
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Edward Teller tries to help build a new hydrogen bomb.