The Discovery of Neutrons and Atomic Energy

In 1932, scientists discovered neutrons, a neutral particle with no charge, which led to a breakthrough in understanding the structure of atoms. This discovery revealed the potential to release vast amounts of energy contained within atomic nuclei. Despite initial skepticism from leading physicists like Ernest Rutherford, Leo Szilard became obsessed with the idea of harnessing atomic energy, envisioning a chain reaction process involving the splitting of atomic nuclei to unlock immense power.