University of Chicago

Definition

The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. During World War II, it was the site where the first controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction was conducted as part of the Manhattan Project.

Related terms

Manhattan Project: A top-secret U.S. government project during World War II that developed the world's first atomic bombs.

Enrico Fermi: An Italian physicist who created the world's first nuclear reactor and contributed to the development of quantum theory and nuclear energy.

Nuclear Chain Reaction: A series of reactions in which a product or by-product causes additional reactions; in this case, neutrons released from fission cause other atoms to split.