"Why Albert Einstein Wasn’t Involved In the Manhattan Project" Topic

"One of the brightest minds of the 20th century, you'd think Albert Einstein would have been among those to join the Manhattan Project and help develop one of the most powerful weapons in the world: the atomic bomb. However, Einstein's involvement in America's race to create the first-ever nuclear weapon was minimal. Even with the little influence he had, he felt guilty…"

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Armand

Einstein was a pacifist. He didn't write the famous letter to FDR. Léo Szilard wrote it. Einstein read it and signed it. He did regret signing it later. Szilard knew that a letter written by anyone else might not make it to FDR's desk but a letter from Einstein would go to the top of the mail heap. It is doubtful that there would have been a Manhattan Project without that letter.

"Why Albert Einstein Wasn't Involved In the Manhattan Project"

Cos he'd watched Peaky Blinders and knew he'd never be able to understand what Cillian Murphy was muttering about?

Thanks.

Armand

Einstein was a theorist. By the time the Manhatten Project got off the ground they were mostly past theory and into the engineering phase. Einstein (and some others) answered the question: "Can we build a bomb?" The Manhatten Project was trying to answer: "HOW do we build a bomb?"

(smile)

Armand

Oppenheimer was a theorist too. He was terrible in the Lab at University. But he knew who was good at applied physics and recruited them. Scientists like Fermi, and Seaborg.

Einstein was offered a position in the MP but he refused. He said he wanted no part of making bombs.