Physicists unleashed the power of the atom — but to what end?

From laboratory quirks to Earth-shattering weapons, a chain of discoveries reached a devastating conclusion.

Ann Finkbeiner
1. Ann Finkbeiner is a writer in Baltimore, Maryland, and author of The JASONS (2006).
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Destroyer of Worlds: The Deep History of the Nuclear Age Frank Close Basic (2025)

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Nature 643, 1180-1182 (2025)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-02350-y

The author declares no competing interests.

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