Nuclear Science and Weapons Development During the Los Alamos Years

Join a Saturday Science Lecture hosted by Lee Sobotka from Washington University in St. Louis' Department of Chemistry exploring the physics and nuclear science during World War II, with a focus on J. Robert Oppenheimer's time at Los Alamos. Delve into the fundamental concepts of fission and fusion, examine the crucial differences between Uranium isotopes 235U and 238U, and understand the production and distinctions between Plutonium isotopes 239Pu and 240Pu. Learn about the historical context of nuclear weapons development, including insights into the German nuclear program and the Allied Alsos mission that sought to understand enemy scientific capabilities.