Scientists discovered nuclear fission in the 1930s from "summary" of The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes
In the early 1930s, a group of scientists embarked on a journey that would forever change the course of history. They were seeking to unlock the secrets of the atom, delving into the world of nuclear physics in search of new understandings and discoveries. It was during this time that they stumbled upon a phenomenon known as nuclear fission. Nuclear fission, the splitting of a heavy atomic nucleus into two lighter nuclei, was first observed by German chemists Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann in late 1938. The discovery came as a surprise, shaking the scientific community to its core. It was a breakthrough that had profound implications, opening up a new realm of possibilities in the field of atomic research. The implications of nuclear fission were not lost on the scientific community. Physicists around the world quickly grasped the potential for this discovery to revolutionize the way we unde...
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