The Discovery of Nuclear Fission

Nuclear fission is the process where the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts, releasing a significant amount of energy. It was discovered in 1938 by German scientists Lise Meitner and Otto Hahn while they were experimenting with uranium. They found that when uranium nuclei absorbed a neutron, they could become unstable and split, leading to a chain reaction. This groundbreaking discovery laid the foundation for nuclear power and weapons, dramatically changing energy production and global politics in the 20th century. Fission demonstrated the vast potential of atomic energy, which is still relevant today.