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Manhattan Project

Definition

The Manhattan Project was a research project during World War II that produced the first nuclear weapons. It was led by the United States with support from Canada and UK.

Analogy

Imagine you're partaking in an intense science fair competition against rival schools (World War II), so your team decides to create something never seen before - a groundbreaking experiment (nuclear weapon). This secret project is your "Manhattan Project."

Related terms

J Robert Oppenheimer: An American theoretical physicist often called "father" of atomic bomb for his role as scientific director at Los Alamos Laboratory during Manhattan Project.

Enrico Fermi: An Italian physicist who created the world's first nuclear reactor, and contributed to the development of quantum theory, nuclear and particle physics. He was a key player in Manhattan Project.

Los Alamos Laboratory: A United States Department of Energy national laboratory initially organized during World War II for the design of nuclear weapons as part of the Manhattan Project.