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Enrico Fermi

Enrico Fermi Books

Physicist

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“Although the problem of transmuting chemical elements into each other is much older than a satisfactory definition of the very concept of chemical element, it is well known that the first and most important step towards its solution was made only nineteen years ago by the late Lord Rutherford, who started the method of the nuclear bombardments.”

YearsFirstsWellsMadeImportantProblemKnownLordStepsElementsLateSolutionsConceptsYears AgoMethodDefinitionsNuclearChemicalsWell KnownNineteenNuclear Bomb
Book:Collected Papers: Italy 1921-1938
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“The fact that no limits exist to the destructiveness of this weapon [the 'Super', i.e. the hydrogen bomb] makes its very existence and the knowledge of its construction a danger to humanity as a whole. It is necessarily an evil thing considered in any light. For these reasons, we believe it important for the President of the United States to tell the American public and the world what we think is wrong on fundamental ethical principles to initiate the development of such a weapon.”

ThinkingWorldBelieveImportantStatesReasonWholeFactsLightHumanityEvilPresidentUnitedExistencePrinciplesUnited StatesDangerDevelopmentLimitsWeaponsFundamentalsBombsEthicalConstructionInitiateHydrogenEvil ThingsDestructivenessHydrogen BombEthical Principles
Author:Enrico Fermi
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“One might be led to question whether the scientists acted wisely in presenting the statesmen of the world with this appalling problem. Actually there was no choice. Once basic knowledge is acquired, any attempt at preventing its fruition would be as futile as hoping to stop the earth from revolving around the sun.”

WorldProblemMightWould BeEarthChoicesSunScientistStatesmenPresentingPreventingFruitionRevolving
Book:Note e memorie (Collected papers)
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