The Manhattan Project, one of the most notorious secret research initiatives, unfolded between 1939 and 1946, ultimately resulting in the creation of the world’s first atomic bombs. This clandestine project was initiated to explore the potential capabilities of atomic weapons, conducted by physicists under a veil of secrecy. The project was steered by Major General Leslie Groves of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1942 to 1946.
At 5:30 a.m. on July 16, 1945, a historic event took place during the Trinity test at the Alamogordo Air Base, situated 120 miles (193 km) south of Albuquerque, New Mexico. This marked the detonation of the first nuclear bomb, unleashing a mushroom cloud that extended 40,000 feet (12,200 m) into the sky. The explosive power of the bomb was staggering, equivalent to over 15,000 tons of TNT.
The aftermath of the Trinity test saw another pivotal moment in history as, a month later, two atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This occurred in the final stages of World War II, leaving an indelible mark on the global landscape. Remarkably, these bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki remain unparalleled, standing as the sole instances of nuclear weapons being employed in warfare.