Page 363 - Demo

Nuclear Weapons of the Atomic AgeReduced facsimile of the back of the Edward Teller photograph on previous pageTeller was a theoretical physicist who helped develop the atomic fission bombs produced by the Manhattan Project. He also pushed for fusion-based weapons, which led to him becoming known as the %u201cfather of the hydrogen bomb,%u201d a title he thought to be in poor taste. He was always known both for his scientific ability and his volatile personality. In 1954, Teller gave testimony at a security hearing against his former Los Alamos superior, Robert Oppenheimer. This resulted in Oppenheimer losing his security clearance, and Teller being ostracized by much of the scientific community. Teller was always an advocate for nuclear-energy development, a strong nuclear arsenal, and a vigorous nuclear-testing program. In his later years, he championed a controversial plan to excavate an artificial harbor in Alaska using a string of thermonuclear explosions in what was called Project Chariot. Teller received many awards, including the Enrico Fermi Award and Albert Einstein Award. He died in 2003 at the age of 95.