The Bomb Leo Szilard: The prologue
Jul 23, 2020
Exploring the impact of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and efforts to prevent its misuse, along with personal reflections on a grandparent's creation. Ads for Burrough's furniture and Mint Mobile add a quirky touch to the episode.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Grandfather And The Mushroom Cloud
- Emily Strasser recalls a childhood photo of her grandfather standing before a mushroom cloud at her grandmother's house near Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
- She later discovered he worked on the bomb dropped on Hiroshima and wrestles with understanding his choices.
Personal Distance Drives Investigation
- Emily admits she never met her grandfather because he died before she was born and only later learned what he did at Oak Ridge.
- She uses that personal gap to explore the moral and historical questions around the bomb.
Szilard: Inventor Turned Opponent
- Emily traces the story back before Hiroshima to find the origins of the bomb and discovers Leo Szilard's pivotal role.
- Szilard both conceived the nuclear chain reaction and later sought to stop the weapon he helped create.