SirMarkOliphant

Sir Mark Oliphant is famous for breaking up an atom bomb. Sir Mark thought that this a wonderful thing to do. During World War Two Sir Mark worked on in proving communication equipment he and his team invented a magnetron. This radar device was used to track down enemies, planes and ships.

By 1943 Sir Mark had returned to the subject that most fascinated him most nuclear energy. He'd led top secret research in America, code named "The Manhattan Project." Sir Mark's team of researchers were racing the Germans to produce the first atom bomb. Sir Mark thought this was a horrible thing to do, but if he didn't do it, they would attack his country, Australia. On the day the atom bomb flattened Hiroshima, Sir Mark was on a family holiday in N.S.W. He was extremely appalled with the effect and devastation it had caused human beings. Even though he was disappointed, he was proud that his invention had worked. After the war Sir Mark returned to Australia to help establish the National University in Canberra.