The Making of the Atomic Bomb: 25th Anniversary Edition

by Richard Rhodes

Szilard had worked out a rigorous mathematical proof that the random motion of thermal equilibrium could be fitted within the framework of the phenomenological theory in its original, classical form, without reference to a limiting atomic model—“and

“closely knit group of people” would finally influence world events more enormously even than Nazism.

Szilard made in literature and utopianism opened his mind to new approaches to world salvation.

Thus to save mankind.68

Pronouncements of experts to the effect that something cannot be done have always irritated me.”

Chain reaction, the process was called.

“it . . . suddenly occurred to me that if we could find an element which is split by neutrons and which would emit two neutrons when it absorbs one neutron, such an element, if assembled in sufficiently large mass, could sustain a nuclear chain reaction.

but the idea never left me. In certain circumstances it might be possible to set up a nuclear chain reaction, liberate energy on an industrial scale, and construct atomic bombs.”