In the early 1900s, the mysteries of the atom brought researchers together in an unprecendented collaborative scientific effort. During World War II, Allied scientists combined their efforts to produce the most advanced weapon on the planet, an enormous feat for the fields of physics and engineering. Following the war, the threat of nuclear holocaust defined our society through politics and media. The history of atomic science is the history of the 20th century.
The field of nuclear research continues to move forward today, generating its own historical record to be collected and examined. By preserving, exploring and interpreting the documents left in our care, we hope to better understand the complex role science plays in the modern world.