The Bomb is a podcast about the creation of atomic bombs during World War Two. The host is Emily Strasser whose grandfather George Strasser was part of the Manhattan Project. Strasser focuses on Leo Szilard, a Hungarian scientist that patented the intellectual property of nuclear chain reactions. She describes the work that he did on the Manhattan Project and conflicts that he had with the U.S. Army. Strasser additionally interviews survivors of Hiroshima. The Bomb is an interesting series that teaches you about figures involved in the Manhattan Project other than Robert Oppenheimer.
In the first few episodes of this podcast, you learn about the background of scientist Leo Szilard. He was born in Hungary and then moved to Berlin where he attended physics lectures and became friends with Albert Einstein. With the discovery of the neutron, Szilard contemplated separating atoms and creating nuclear power. Though not all academics of his time believed this was possible, he was adamant that it could be done and he pursued this idea vigorously.
When World War Two began, Szilard wrote a letter to FDR about how the Nazis were trying to create an atomic bomb. This letter was signed by Albert Einstein. The letter was given to FDR by Alexander Sachs. FDR was preoccupied with pressing concerns initially but after a second conversation he allocated funding for atomic research.
Beginning in 1942, Szilard began working on the Manhattan Project at The Metallurgical Lab in Chicago. While there, he helped conduct a large-scale atomic chain reaction that enhanced the United States’ atomic program. Despite his discoveries, he conflicted with Leslie Groves (the head of the Manhattan Project) and the U.S. Army about using his patents for nuclear chain reactions. He eventually sold the U.S. Army his nuclear inventions for approximately $15,000.
Towards the end of World War Two, when it became apparent the United States was going to drop an atomic bomb on Japan, Szilard created a petition against its use. Though it was signed by numerous scientists, it never reached President Truman. Strasser laments that her grandfather did not sign it.
At the end of the podcast, you hear tales from survivors that were at Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 when the bomb dropped. Their ordeals were horrific and listeners will be astonished by what these survivors experienced. To hear them describe their experiences in their own words is powerful!
The Bomb is an expertly crafted podcast. The research is presented in an engaging way that includes actors narrating the lives of historical figures and sound effects that will bring you back in time. I highly recommend this podcast to anyone that is interested in finding out how the idea of an atomic bomb became a reality.
Michael Walsh is an Adult Services Librarian at the Will Library. He is currently reading The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin.