The Fly in the Cathedral: How a Group of Cambridge Scientists Won the International Race to Split the Atom

A well researched, well told story of the Cavendish lab and the work that culminated in the discovery of the neutron and the splitting of the atom in the early 1930s. Experimentation gets short shrift in histories of science as compared to theory, but Ernest Rutherford is as interesting as just about any theorist and using a simple apparatus to essentially visualize the atom itself as Rutherford did in his scattering experiment is about as impressive as any theoretical feat. This book takes those as its prelude and focuses on Walton, Cockcroft and to a lesser degree Chadwick and Rutherford's ongoing role.

In the process, the book tells the interesting story of the inception of larger scale experimentation that moved beyond tabletop show more experiments by gentleman scientists to large machinery using large amounts of energy and teams of researchers.

The book is more thoroughly researched journalistic history that delves more deeply into the engineering complexities of building the apparatus than into nuclear physics itself, the only reason for not giving it a full five stars. show less

A well researched, well told story of the Cavendish lab and the work that culminated in the discovery of the neutron and the splitting of the atom in the early 1930s. Experimentation gets short shrift in histories of science as compared to theory, but Ernest Rutherford is as interesting as just about any theorist and using a simple apparatus to essentially visualize the atom itself as Rutherford did in his scattering experiment is about as impressive as any theoretical feat. This book takes those as its prelude and focuses on Walton, Cockcroft and to a lesser degree Chadwick and Rutherford's ongoing role.

In the process, the book tells the interesting story of the inception of larger scale experimentation that moved beyond tabletop show more experiments by gentleman scientists to large machinery using large amounts of energy and teams of researchers.

The book is more thoroughly researched journalistic history that delves more deeply into the engineering complexities of building the apparatus than into nuclear physics itself, the only reason for not giving it a full five stars. show less

Good, relatively brief history of the Cavendish during the late 1920's and early 1930's - Rutherford, Chadwick, Gamow, and the main players - Cockroft and Walton. Made me wonder how difficult it might be today to repeat their experiments to "split the atom" in my garage or barn (with modern materials, of course).

A detailed account of how the splitting of the atom was achieved, in Cambridge, in 1932 - the people, including other researchers worldwide, and the equipment used (cutting edge for its time, developed for its purpose, but very simple when viewed from close on a century later).

A fine story behind Chadwick's discovery of the neutron and of the development of the Cockcroft-Walton accelerator. Good details regarding the operation of the Cavendish Laboratory under Rutherford. Also serves as a nice introduction to the science of the nucleus. The book misplaced Worcester Polytechnical Institute in Maryland.

Easy reading.