Enrico fermi biography video theodore
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In early 1942, Ted Petry was recruited out of high school to a secret government project at the University of Chicago, told only that it had “something to do with the war effort.” Little did the 17-year-old from the South Side of Chicago know that the $94-per-month job would be part of a groundbreaking experiment that ushered in the Atomic Age.
Working for Nobel-winning scientists Arthur Compton and Enrico Fermi, Petry played a small but important role in the first controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction. Working as a messenger and laborer, Petry was one of the people who worked day and night to build the 20-foot reactor of graphite and uranium known as Chicago Pile-1 where the landmark discovery happened.
The last known living person to witness one of the most important scientific experiments of the 20th century, Petry died July 28 at age 94.
Petry was one of 49 people present Dec. 2, 1942 on the squash racquets court under the west stands of Stagg Field for the re
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The World of Enrico Fermi pt2 (1970)
Bullish (Video)
Posted: January 24, 2025 | Last updated: January 24, 2025
The film discusses the pivotal role of physicist Enrico Fermi during World War II, particularly in the development of nuclear energy and the atomic bomb. It details his collaboration with other scientists, including Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard, who alerted President Roosevelt to the threat of Nazi Germany's nuclear research. Fermi's work led to the first controlled nuclear chain reaction in December 1942 at the University of Chicago, marking a significant step in atomic research. The narrative also highlights the ethical dilemmas faced by scientists post-war, their push for civilian control over atomic energy, and Fermi's eventual advocacy for free scientific inquiry. The film concludes with reflections on Fermi's legacy and contributions to physics. Keywords Enrico Fermi, World War II, nuclear energy, atomic bomb, Albert Einstein, chain reaction, Man
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Physics History Network
Dates
September 29, 1901 – November 28, 1954
Authorized Form of Name
Fermi, Enrico, 1901-1954
Abstract
Enrico Fermi was Professor of Physics, Institute for Nuclear Studies at the University of Chicago (1945-1954). Other institutional affiliations include Columbia University and the University of Rome. His research interests included slow neutrons and artificial radioactivity.
Important Dates
September 29, 1901Birth, Rome (Italy).
1922Obtained PhD in Physics, University of Pisa (Università di Pisa), Pisa (Italy).
1922 – 1923Italian Ministry of Public Instruction Fellow, University of Göttingen.
1923 – 1924Instructor in Physics, University of Rome (Università di Roma).
1924Research Assistant, University of Leiden (Rijksuniversiteit te Leiden).
1925 – 1926Lecturer in Mathematical Physics and Mechanics, University of Florence (Università di Firenze).
1926 – 1938Professor of Theoretical Physics, University of Rome (Unive