Nuclear Fusion and Fission

Book excerpt: Nuclear Fusion and Fission delves into nuclear physics and the scientists responsible for the discovery of splitting and fusing an atom. The book begins with the very basic building blocks of science, breaking down the different types of energy and how we use them, the materials that make up an atom, and our search for the perfect renewable energy source. Set against the cultural backdrop of World War II, later chapters follow each significant theory that led to the creation of the world’s most dangerous weapon as well as some of its most widely used medical and food production processes today.