The American Physical Society has designated Chicago Pile-1 and Stagg Field at the University of Chicago, as well as "Site A" in Palos Forest Preserve, as historic sites to recognize the world's first self-sustaining, controlled nuclear chain reaction. The sites will receive plaques acknowledging their contributions to physics. Chicago Pile-1 was the location where the first human-made, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction was triggered in 1942 as part of the Manhattan Project. The reactor was later moved to Site A, which became the Argonne National Laboratory. Researchers at Argonne have made advances in nuclear energy, neutron scattering research, and nuclear physics applications. Meanwhile, at the University of Chicago, the squash court and old football stands that housed Chicago Pile-1 have been replaced by libraries, and a bronze sculpture by Henry Moore called "Nuclear Energy" commemorates the spot.
Mon, 17 Jul 2023 21:02:00 GMT | UChicago News