culture shock
...riments; Since their country feared invasion by the nazi's or bombing attacks, Canada provided the haven the british needed in return for a opportunity to work in the project. The leader of the team that crossed the atlantic to Canada was Hans von Halban, who along with Dr. Lew Kowarski had escaped from the Institute Du Radium in Paris one step ahead of the invading german army. They took the world supply of 200 Kg of heavy water with them to Canada. Having pioneered the chain reaction using uranium and heavy water, the scientists applied their knowledge and their heavy water to the new Canadian nuclear industry. On September 5th, 1945 near Ottawa the team started up the first operating nuclear reactor outside the USA. Of course, the output was minuscule, but the significance was immense; the principal of getting energy from splitting atoms in a controlled chain reaction (fission) was established beyond doubt. It was now the job of the scientists and engineers to put it to a practical use. Nuclear Reactors A nuclear ...