Manhattan Project

As part of a 1965 NBC documentary, "The Decision to Drop the Bomb," Manhattan Project leader Robert Oppenheimer reflected on the moment he and his colleagues witnessed the first detonation of an atomic weapon, the Trinity Test, in July 1945 in New Mexico. Though he reportedly actually said "I guess it worked," he later thought of the Hindu story of the Vishnu revealing his full power as a hundred thousand suns rising in the sky. Watch him say it here.

The Manhattan Project involved some of the most prominent figures of the 20th century, ended World War II, and ushered in the Atomic Age. This four-part podcast delves into everything from the project’s origins to the “secret cities” that sprung up around its three project sites—as well as how the project’s success led Oppenheimer to become a vocal opponent of nuclear weapons.

This episode of the television program 'Modern Marvels' focuses on the Manhattan Project, combining archival footage and interviews with historians and scientists to shed light on one of the most ambitious military and scientific endeavors in human history.

In 1961, the Soviet Union dropped what is thought to be the most powerful nuclear weapon ever actually tested. Named AN602, it is more commonly known as the Tsar Bomba. Russia released footage of the blast in 2020, and the video—shared here by the Reuters news agency—underscores the destructive power of nuclear warfare.

The Manhattan Project was one of history’s most secretive and consequential endeavors, leading to the creation of the atomic bomb during World War II. Sparked by fears that Nazi Germany was developing nuclear weapons, the project brought together top scientists like Robert Oppenheimer and Enrico Fermi to pioneer groundbreaking nuclear science. After years of intensive research and development, the first atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, bringing an end to the war but with catastrophic human tolls. Beyond its devastation, the project’s legacy shaped global politics, sparked the nuclear age, and fueled innovations in medicine, energy, and space exploration. But how did such a massive and secretive operation succeed?

The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were inarguably devastating, but almost six decades later there is still widespread disagreement regarding how many people were killed by the atomic bombs—both on the day of the bombings and in the months and years that followed. Estimates differ by as many as 100,000 people. This article explores the issue, as well as why people may favor one number over another.

What we now know as the Manhattan Project was formally created in late 1942. But its roots lay in the work being done by some of the most famous physicists of the 20th century. This interactive history explains how an international team of extraordinary researchers ultimately created the most powerful weapons the world had ever seen. The site also links to detailed biographies of more than a dozen of the most prominent scientists who were involved.

After World War II, governments with access to nuclear weapons conducted thousands of additional tests. Motherboard interviewed veterans who were present at test sites in the Pacific, and shares their experiences of witnessing nuclear explosions. This video combines those interviews with archival footage from those Cold War test sites, in an attempt to convey what it’s like to be near a nuclear blast.

The Manhattan Project was a top-secret project during World War II focused specifically on developing the world’s first atomic weapons. This history, created by the National Park Service, provides an excellent overview of the project, which was largely conducted at three sites spread across the US—all now part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.

Use of the first atomic weapons raised the possibility of a war in which there were no survivors. Fear of an all-out nuclear war has colored diplomatic relations ever since. This article looks at how the threat of nuclear weapons influenced diplomatic efforts during the Cold War, and how that threat continues to affect international affairs.