If you invented a formula (E = mc²) to calculate the energy produced by splitting an atom, you’d be familiar with the scale of power that nuclear energy could create. You might even fear weaponizing that energy. Einstein did, and that led him to write a letter he would, later, deeply regret. Here’s the real story behind Einstein’s famous letter to U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt and the facts that people most often misremember. Einstein didn’t invent atomic energy. While Einstein’s formula can calculate atomic energy, he never helped build a nuclear energy plant or an atomic bomb. The scientist repeatedly reminded people, “I do not consider myself the father of the release of atomic energy. My part in it was quite indirect.” In fact, as an outspoken pacifist, Einstein was against weaponizing atomic energy. However, five years into Hitler’s regime, three scientists in Berlin discovered that nuclear energy could be used to create a bomb — although some technical problems needed to be overcome. When Einstein heard of this, it was deeply distressing for the German-born Jewish physicist. This Month in History Einstein Wrote a Letter About the Atomic Bomb
Plan to Land in Ros Celebrating 75 Years of UFO Histo In the archives of American UFO history, few incidents have inspired as much fascination — and speculation — as the one in Roswell, New Mexico. This year the city of Roswell celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Roswell Incident. There are many different opinions regarding the incident, but one thing is certain — the “UFO Capital of the World” was the destination hotspot July 1–3 for UFO enthusiasts and skeptics alike! The event known as the Roswell Incident quickly swept through the nation in the summer of 1947. In June or possibly early July, William Brazel woke up like any normal day to work on the J.B. Foster Ranch when he made a shocking discovery. “I found a large area of bright wreckage made up of rubber strips, tinfoil, a rather tough paper, and sticks,” Brazel told the Roswell Daily Record. Several stories of “flying saucers” had already appeared in the national press that summer, so Brazel thought it could be something of the sort. U.S. Army officials were quick to debunk the theory that little green men had visited earth, claiming it was just a “weather balloon.” But years later, they admitted it wasn’t a weather balloon; instead, it was part of a covert project they were trying to keep under wraps.
If the Nazi party had nuclear weapons, what would become of the United States if they didn’t act quickly?
So, with the help of fellow physicist Leo Szilard, Einstein sent his famous letter to President Roosevelt in August 1939. He told the president that Germany could be creating atomic bombs, and advised him to stockpile uranium ore, suggesting that the U.S. military should begin creating its own atomic weapons. The president followed his advice. Einstein was a security risk. While Einstein might seem like a natural choice for the Manhattan Project, the U.S. Intelligence office denied Einstein a security clearance. Hundreds of scientists on the project were forbidden from consulting Einstein on account of his politics and activism. As a top-secret project, they couldn’t take any risks of exposure. In an interview with Newsweek, Einstein shared his regret in writing his letter, saying, “Had I known that the Germans would not succeed in developing an atomic bomb, I would have done nothing.” Yet, even as a new American citizen, Einstein’s worry and sense of duty to the country led him to write one of the most historic letters in our nation’s history.
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