On 9 October 1941, in a crucial decision that would shape the course of history, President Franklin D Roosevelt authorized a nascent atomic research initiative, setting the stage for the creation of the Manhattan Project.
This top-secret programme, born out of mounting concerns about the potential for Nazi Germany to develop nuclear weapons, sought to harness atomic energy for military purposes.
The decision marked the beginning of an unprecedented scientific and military endeavour, eventually culminating in the development of the first atomic bombs, which would decisively alter the outcome of World War II and forever change global geopolitics.
Roosevelt's approval not only accelerated advancements in nuclear physics but also triggered an arms race that defined much of the 20th century.
