Rudolf Peierls

Rudolf Peierls was a physicist who played a significant role in understanding nuclear fission during World War II. He, along with colleagues, discovered that certain heavy elements, like uranium, could release a tremendous amount of energy when their nuclei split. This understanding was crucial for developing the atomic bomb. Peierls also contributed to the theoretical framework that helped understand how chain reactions could be initiated and sustained. His work laid the groundwork for both nuclear energy applications and the ethical discussions surrounding nuclear weapons, highlighting the dual nature of scientific discovery and its potential consequences.