Einstein and the Bomb: Revisited

Albert Einstein is the scientist most often associated with the development and implementation of the atomic bomb. Featured on the July 1, 1946 issue of Time magazine (above), it is a common misconception that Einstein "invented the bomb". In fact, Einstein was an absolute pacifist until Hitler took control of Germany in WWII. Newsweek published a remark by Einstein saying, "Had I known that the Germans would not suceed in producing an atomic bomb, I never would have lifted a finger." While some of Einstein's work was used to develop the bomb, the idea of the bomb was conceived by Leo Szilard in London after hearing a provoking lecture by Ernest Rutherford on a sci-fi book written by HG Wells. Szilard brought the idea of a nuclear chain reaction to Einstein who immediately recognized its significance. Fear of the Germans creating such a weapon led Einstein and Szilard to draft a letter to President Roosevelt which would ultimately provide the impetus to begin the Manhattan Project. However, Einstein was never a member of the Manhattan Project because he would not have been granted the necessary security clearance.

From Discover - March 2008 article by Walter Isaacsn, "Chain Reaction: From Einstein to the Atomic Bomb". Isaacson also wrote a full volume called Einstein: His Life and Universe