Enrico Fermi and the Manhattan Project Enrico Fermi was born in Rome, Italy in 1901. His mother was a major influence on his love for physics. At the age of 14, Enrico’s beloved brother passed away suddenly. This death marked the start of his life in physics. Fermi’s parents encouraged him to study the science in order to console him after the family death. During his teen years, Fermi began to conduct physics experiments for fun, including testing Rome’s water supply density. By 1934, Fermi began his most important studies with the atom. He discovered that nuclear transformation was occurring in nearly every single element. Fermi worked heavily with Uranium; which then led to the discovery of slowing down neutrons. This in fact led to nuclear fission and the production of the elements beyond what we see today on the Periodic Table.…show more content… He then was appointed professor of physics at New York’s Columbia University. Being there, he discovered one incredible thing: uranium neutrons were emitted into fissioning uranium, they could split off atoms and set off a chain reaction thus releasing enormous amounts of energy. This discovery led to the very first controlled nuclear chain reaction in 1942. Albert Einstien and Enric Fermi both fled to the United States and agreed upon the dangers of atomic technology in the hands of the Axis powers. Enrico traveled to Washington to express their concerns to government officials. However, few shared his concerns. Einstein wrote a letter to President Roosevelt urging the development of an atomic research program. Roosevelt saw neither the necessity nor the utility for such a project. However he agreed to proceed slowly. In late 1941, the American effort to design and build an Atomic bomb received its code name — the Manhattan
