THE WORLD'S FIRST ATOMIC PILE CP-1 "THE DAY TOMORROW BEGAN" UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO 62774

The Day Tomorrow Began is a 1967 film on the CP-1, the first atomic pile that lead to the development of the atomic bomb and the beginning of the atomic age. The film uses interviews and images of the actual people and places that worked to create the first sustained atomic reaction on 2 December 1942 at CP-1 at the University of Chicago. The film opens with shots of aspects of nuclear power and nuclear reactions, as well as an aerial shot of a nuclear reactor facility (01:29). An aerial shot of University of Chicago 02:20) in 1942 shows viewers where the location of CP-1 is, behind a vine-covered football field. Dr. John Wheeler of Princeton University (03:04) recounts his experience being part of the team that developed the first atomic bomb. University of Columbia’s Leo Szilard (03:45) also part of the team, as is Ernest Lawrence, inventor of cyclotron (04:25). The task was to make a block of uranium big enough to have enough U-235 to release atomic energy. The creation of plutonium (05:40) to substitute for U-235 proves to be a major step forward for the project. Dr. Glenn Seaborg talks about weighing first sample of plutonium (06:33). To many, the idea of creating an atomic bomb out of newly manufactured element seemed absurd. At Columbia, Princeton, and Chicago, efforts are made to suspend plutonium. It appears the efforts are falling behind as Nazis take control of Czechoslovakia’s uranium ore reserves (08:21) and Norway’s heavy water facility (08:25); however, the bombing of the Norwegian plant buys the U.S. more time. At Columbia, scientists make graphite blocks to use in splitting atoms (09:15). British scientists (09:57) find that as little as 25 pounds of U-235 can make a bomb. The bombing of Pearl Harbor (10:09) happens, leading to more crash programs and the militarization of the operation. Scientists continue tests (12:25), and a breakthrough happens when Frank Spedding (13:32) of Iowa State develops a new technique for producing uranium. The Du Pont company joins the group to help develop a plant to develop uranium: Dr. Crawford H. Greenewalt of the Du Pont Company explains the company’s joining the mission (14:11). Finally, a full-scale attempt at a sustained reaction is made. Illustrations (15:58) and actual photographs of the progression (17:00) are used to portray the creation of a round pile with uranium in middle, complete with an explanation of how the reaction will be controlled (17:44). Dr. Herbert Anderson of the University of Chicago (19:23) explains how his group worked in shifts to build the pile. Dr. Leona Libby of the University of Chicago recounts how she couldn’t help with the actual construction because Dr. Walter Zinn was worried about swearing in front of her. Dr. Norman Hilberry of the University of Arizona talks about his role in the construction. On 2 December 1942, the scientists begin the test, pulling out the control rods to initiate the reaction. The scientists talk about the initial reactions and the ensuing increase in reactions, which announced that they had the technology to create the first atomic bomb. The film concludes with footage of U.S. troops in the Pacific (23:39), the Enola Gay and crew (23:49) preparing for takeoff, the dropping of the bomb and its detonation (24:15), and some modern plutonium-producing reactors.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com

[@quantumleap359]

Very interesting take on the beginning of the atomic age. It's a shame the 16mm print was in such bad shape, many missing feet which contained information has been lost. Perhaps a better print will be found. Thanks for posting this.

[@Nighthawke70]

Argonne labs has a better version of this.

[@BELCAN57]

Extremely difficult to follow. Had to stop. Hopefully a better print will surface.

[@peterwexler5737]

CIA Directors cut?

[@djtall3090]

Fascinating documentary. thanks for the upload

[@shawnmacaluso9256]

Wonderful.

[@peterwexler5737]

Well told.

[@bevinboulder5039]

It's very hard to understand how these scientists chose to do this experiment in nuclear fission in the middle of a large city. Were they insane? In fact no, they weren't - just extremely confident in their ability to shut down the reaction when they needed to. Still pretty amazing in hind sight.

[@withershin]

The didn't care. Modern people doing the same work also do not care. If you study the distribution of industrial sites throughout history you will find they do not care. The secret is in plain sight. They do no care. Also you probably paid taxes that fund this stuff. They do not care.

[@keithammleter3824]

They didn't know it then, but carbon pile reactors are inherently dangerous, due to the Wigner effect - as the British learn the hard way at Windscale - major disaster. Wigner effect prevents a shutdown.

[@bevinboulder5039]

@@keithammleter3824 Lucky that didn't happen in Chicago.

[@huh4233]

People fighting and dying in Europe and Pacific. Easy choice in secrecy.

[@yakacm]

@ 00:21 look at the size of that Cockcroft-Walton multiplier.

[@takek9215]

There is actually a country that tested atomic bombs in two cities just before victory. There are also two types of nuclear bombs. The reason is stated to be an early end, but the country has never been attacked by the mainland. It sounds like a lie, but if Russia were to use an atomic bomb now, there would be no place for us to evacuate. There are countries that are doing even worse than that.

[@action55jackson]

My father and a cousin were in training in the Philippines when the bombs were dropped. Both were thankful they did not have to go ashore in Japan. A few years ago I visited the Truman Library and read the comments in the visitor book for their WW2 display. Most were against the dropping of the bombs. I doubt many Americans have ever read the history of the terrible in fighting amongst the Japanese military over the question of surrender. They were prepared to fight to their last citizens and kill as many of the US troops as they could without ever surrendering. We who have never been invaded have no concept but we all have an opinion, informed or not.

[@thefretfiend]

Ever wonder where the term SCRAM came from? It's the title of the man sitting up on that rail ready with the axe in case of emergency. Single Control Rod Axe Man. 🙂

[@johntrottier1162]

At Nuclear Power School the definition was a little different. To SCRAM a reactor is to perform an emergency shutdown by inserting all control rods. Ron Hillberry, his axe and his purpose are forever remembered as Super Critical Reactor Axe Man

[@paulgaskins7713]

21:02 could you imagine this entire project being held up by an investigation demanded by the public because of the graphite dust making everyone appear black when they’re not. In fact could you imagine if this project didn’t get funding because it was just white Americans and Europeans? Or loosing their funding because they didn’t let the woman work on the pile. That would be wild…

[@craxd1]

To understand how dangerous that type of pile was, ask the British, who had a meltdown with something similar.

[@ChiefBridgeFuser]

"Most of our electricity from...." lol. Didn't quite turn out that way.

[@gregorymalchuk272]

France achieved that. It's technically and economically possible.

[@danielmorse4213]

It will.

[@countdown2xstacy]

Edward Teller

[@PIERRECLARY]

don't run with scissors, don't play with matches.....

[@sonicmastersword8080]

Is this censored?

[@James-kd7dc]

Who else watched this and immediately thought of the word gu......e

[@paulgaskins7713]

24:41 hahahahahaha 😂 ahhahh ahhhhh😩 wah wah 😭

[@dominicdaley5702]

Its funny all this stuff is just different types of dirt reacting to other dirt 😅

[@tirebiter4009]

Using the bomb against Japan was less of a military action against an all but defeated enemy than a show of superiority to the rest of the world. After the end of the European war, the Soviet Union resumed building up it's military. They were at near maximum strength in troops, ships, planes, tanks, missles, etc. Truman knew they intended to invade Japan from the north in a day or two, and at the very least, steal the victory from the US. He wanted to make it crystal clear to the USSR that not only did the US have nuclear bombs, they would use them without hesitation.

[@clyde9803]

Japan was not "all but defeated." The military command was not about to quit and had thoroughly prepared the populace to die fighting if the expected invasion took place.

[@action55jackson]

The pilot of the bomber gave numerous interviews during his lifetime and on each occasion stated that his command was to be a split command, i.e., he was to prepare to deliver the bomb in both Germany and Japan. Fortunately, or unfortunately, Germany surrendered before the first test in New Mexico. Additionally, it was US policy to get Russia to declare war against Japan but they drugged their feet and did so after the first bomb was dropped, I think.

[@tirebiter4009]

@@clyde9803 Japan had no navy or air force left to speak of. The US conducted air raids with impunity. No fighters engaged them and anti-aircraft defences were scarce. If an invasion wasn't feasible a blockade would have been effective. If the civilian populace was prepared to fight it out, the atomic bombs wouldn't have made a difference. That's only if the situation was merely the US vs. Japan. The focus was totally shifted to the USSR by then. Forget the Allied alliances of the US, Great Britain and Russia. That was long gone. The Soviet Union was clearly the enemy and number one threat.

[@tirebiter4009]

@@action55jackson I admit that my position on whether using the A-bomb on Japan is speculative, but I think it is accurate. Stalin had already turned against the US. It was clear there would be two super powers at the end. The Soviets were amassing power and seizing nearby countries as fast as they could. Stalin wasn't going to make any move that would benefit the US. His only motivation for invading Japan was to steal glory from it's inevitable defeat. Truman was intent to prevent that at any cost.

[@jamesschlueter8285]

Japan was not “all but defeated”, it wasn’t a show of superiority, the Soviets could never have invaded the main Japanese islands, and the bomb was necessary to avoid hundreds of thousands of dead GIs if the US, the only power capable of it, had to invade.

[@YouveBeenMiddled]

Remember when propaganda promoted our achievements? Fermi remembers.

[@markwood4200]

Thanks for cesium 138 in the higher levels of atmosphere...