The Manhattan Project

The Manhattan Project was a secret research effort during World War II by the United States, UK, and Canada to develop the first atomic bombs. It involved scientists and engineers working together to understand nuclear fission—splitting atoms of uranium and plutonium—to produce explosive energy. The project aimed to create powerful weaponry before Nazi Germany or Japan could develop their own. By 1945, it successfully built and tested the bombs used in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, significantly impacting warfare and geopolitics. It marked the dawn of the nuclear age, demonstrating both scientific innovation and profound ethical questions.