In 1905, as part of his Special Theory of Relativity, Albert Einstein published the point that a large amount of energy could be released from a small amount of matter.
In
1905
,
as
part
of
his
Special
Theory
of
Relativity
,
Albert
Einstein
published
the
point
that
a
large
amount
of
energy
could
be
released
from
a
small
amount
of
matter
.
This was expressed by the equation E = mc2.
This
was
expressed
by
the
equation
E
=
mc2
.
But bombs were not what Einstein had in mind when he published this equation.
But
bombs
were
not
what
Einstein
had
in
mind
when
he
published
this
equation
.
In 1929, he publicly declared that if a war broke out he would "refuse to do war service, direct or indirect...." His position would change in 1933, as the result of Adolf Hitler's coming into power in Germany.
In
1929
,
he
publicly
declared
that
if
a
war
broke
out
he
would
``
refuse
to
do
war
service
,
direct
or
indirect
...
.
''
His
position
would
change
in
1933
,
as
the
result
of
Adolf
Hitler
's
coming
into
power
in
Germany
.
Einstein's greatest role in the invention of the atomic bomb was signing a letter to President Franklin Roosevelt urging that the bomb be built because some physicists feared that Germany might be working on an atomic bomb.
Einstein
's
greatest
role
in
the
invention
of
the
atomic
bomb
was
signing
a
letter
to
President
Franklin
Roosevelt
urging
that
the
bomb
be
built
because
some
physicists
feared
that
Germany
might
be
working
on
an
atomic
bomb
.
Among those concerned were physicists Leo Szilard and Eugene Wigner.
Among
those
concerned
were
physicists
Leo
Szilard
and
Eugene
Wigner
.
But they had no influence with those in power.
But
they
had
no
influence
with
those
in
power
.
So in July 1939 they explained the problem to someone who did: Albert Einstein.
So
in
July
1939
they
explained
the
problem
to
someone
who
did
:
Albert
Einstein
.
After talking with Einstein, in August 1939 Szilard wrote a letter to President Roosevelt with Einstein's signature on it, which was delivered to Roosevelt in October 1939.
After
talking
with
Einstein
,
in
August
1939
Szilard
wrote
a
letter
to
President
Roosevelt
with
Einstein
's
signature
on
it
,
which
was
delivered
to
Roosevelt
in
October
1939
.
Germany had invaded Poland the previous month, the time was ripe for action.
Germany
had
invaded
Poland
the
previous
month
,
the
time
was
ripe
for
action
.
That October research of a-bomb began but proceeded slowly because the invention of the atomic bomb seemed distant and unlikely.
That
October
research
of
a-bomb
began
but
proceeded
slowly
because
the
invention
of
the
atomic
bomb
seemed
distant
and
unlikely
.
In April 1940 an Einstein letter, ghost-written by Szilard, pressed the researchers on the need for "greater speed".
In
April
1940
an
Einstein
letter
,
ghost-written
by
Szilard
,
pressed
the
researchers
on
the
need
for
``
greater
speed
''
.
As the realization of nuclear weapons grew near, Einstein looked beyond the current war to future problems that such weapons could bring.
As
the
realization
of
nuclear
weapons
grew
near
,
Einstein
looked
beyond
the
current
war
to
future
problems
that
such
weapons
could
bring
.
He wrote to his friend about his fear about the future use of the a-bomb.
He
wrote
to
his
friend
about
his
fear
about
the
future
use
of
the
a-bomb
.
The atomic bombings of Japan occurred three months after Germany gave in.
The
atomic
bombings
of
Japan
occurred
three
months
after
Germany
gave
in
.
In November 1954, five months before his death, Einstein summarized his feelings about his role in the creation of the atomic bomb: "I made one great mistake in my life...when I signed the letter to President Roosevelt recommending that atom bombs be made; but there was some justification---the danger that the Germans would make them?
In
November
1954
,
five
months
before
his
death
,
Einstein
summarized
his
feelings
about
his
role
in
the
creation
of
the
atomic
bomb
:
``
I
made
one
great
mistake
in
my
life
...
when
I
signed
the
letter
to
President
Roosevelt
recommending
that
atom
bombs
be
made
;
but
there
was
some
justification
--
-the
danger
that
the
Germans
would
make
them
?
In 1905, as part of his Special Theory of Relativity, Albert Einstein published the point that a large amount of energy could be released from a small amount of matter. This was expressed by the equation E = mc2. But bombs were not what Einstein had in mind when he published this equation.  In 1929, he publicly declared that if a war broke out he would "refuse to do war service, direct or indirect...." His position would change in 1933, as the result of Adolf Hitler's coming into power in Germany.  Einstein's greatest role in the invention of the atomic bomb was signing a letter to President Franklin Roosevelt urging that the bomb be built because some physicists feared that Germany might be working on an atomic bomb. Among those concerned were physicists Leo Szilard and Eugene Wigner. But they had no influence with those in power. So in July 1939 they explained the problem to someone who did: Albert Einstein. After talking with Einstein, in August 1939 Szilard wrote a letter to President Roosevelt with Einstein's signature on it, which was delivered to Roosevelt in October 1939.  Germany had invaded Poland the previous month, the time was ripe for action. That October research of a-bomb began but proceeded slowly because the invention of the atomic bomb seemed distant and unlikely. In April 1940 an Einstein letter, ghost-written by Szilard, pressed the researchers on the need for "greater speed".  As the realization of nuclear weapons grew near, Einstein looked beyond the current war to future problems that such weapons could bring. He wrote to his friend about his fear about the future use of the a-bomb.  The atomic bombings of Japan occurred three months after Germany gave in.  In November 1954, five months before his death, Einstein summarized his feelings about his role in the creation of the atomic bomb: "I made one great mistake in my life...when I signed the letter to President Roosevelt recommending that atom bombs be made; but there was some justification---the danger that the Germans would make them?