splitting the atom
Breaking nuclear bonds
Splitting the atom refers to nuclear fission—breaking apart an atomic nucleus to release enormous energy.
The phrase carries historical weight from the mid-20th century breakthrough that led to both nuclear power and atomic weapons.
Figuratively, it represents any feat of extreme scientific or intellectual difficulty: It's not like we're splitting the atom here—just follow the instructions.
- nuclear power plantFission-based electricity facility
- particle physicsStudy of subatomic constituents
- Manhattan ProjectClandestine atomic weapons program
- Trinity testInitial nuclear weapon explosion
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
uranium-235 · Hiroshima · neutron · critical mass · radioactive waste · E=mc² · splitting hairs · splitting wood · nuclear proliferation · Enrico Fermi · Nagasaki · proton · electricity generation · plutonium-239 · isotope · enriched uranium · nuclear arms race · arms race
splitting the atomnuclear fusion
Atoms joining, releasing power
fusion · atomic fusion · thermonuclear fusion · hydrogen fusion · nucleosynthesis
split, splits, splitter, splitters, atom, atomic, atomize, atomizer, subatomic