The Manhattan Project was a secretive U.S. initiative during World War II that resulted in the creation of the first atomic bomb. Despite its immense impact, even key government figures like the Vice President were unaware of its details. The project culminated in the Trinity Test, where scientists had wildly varying predictions about the bomb's yield, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding their work. Established afterwards, the Atomic Energy Commission played a crucial role in managing nuclear advancements, and the legacy of regret from some scientists like Oppenheimer remains poignant.
Oppenheimer famously guessed 0.3 kilotons, which showed just how uncertain the team was about their work.
At the end of the war, the United States Atomic Energy Commission was established in 1946 to help oversee the growing work around nuclear weapons and the nuclear industry.
The secrecy around the Manhattan Project wasn't even known to the Vice President.
Ultimately used twice to help end the war in the Pacific, the development of the atomic bomb and the work done through the Manhattan Project is still somewhat shrouded in mystery.
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