The following story originally appeared in The Daily Princetonian on Dec. 2, 1955:
The existence at Princeton of top secret research into peacetime uses of atomic energy was confirmed yesterday by President Dodds. Shortly after an announcement by the Atomic Energy Commission in Washington, the President revealed that studies into an entirely new source of power were being conducted by Project Matterhorn at Forrestal Research Center.
Headed by Lyman Spitzer Jr., Young Professor of Astronomy, the research here is a major part of Project Sherwood, the government's principal investigation into controlled thermonuclear reactions.
Using deuterium, a heavy isotope of hydrogen obtained from sea water, the team of scientists working under Dr. Spitzer's direction hopes to create a power potential capable of supplying the world's needs for a billion years to come.
The announcement's effect is to make Princeton, along with Los Alamos, New Mexico and Livermore, California, one of the major centers in science's efforts to control the nuclear effects of burning hydrogen. This was the phenomenon which made possible the advent of the H-bomb in 1953.
President Dodds issued the following statement yesterday:
"At Princeton we are gratified that members of the faculty, and their associates, under the leadership of Professor Lyman Spitzer Jr., are contributing to the progress of this development. They are fulfilling with distinction the responsibility of their profession.
"It is heartening to find science emphasizing once again its traditional function of service to mankind. A successful result could well be a contribution of the greatest magnitude to human welfare.
"There are many grave problems ahead to be solved before any concrete results may be expected from this work. Some of the problems may never be solved, but we must press on with high hope and with faith in the ability of our scientists to succeed. The goal—a new source of power sufficient to supply mankind's needs a thousand times over—demands our greatest efforts. The work at Princeton will be prosecuted with all our vigor."
Theoretical aspects of research began in 1951 when Professor Spitzer conceived a plan for maintaining the extreme high temperatures required for the deuterium reaction. The result was the government-financed Matterhorn operation, which up to now has been cloaked in secrecy.
The research effort is under the general supervision of a committee headed by Dr. Henry DeW. Smyth '18.
Read More
GSG approves audit, delays budget approval after ‘insufferable’ meeting
Nikki HanThe final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.
The final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.
Effort to restore chapel’s pews slowly progresses
Ben GoldstonHead carpenter Jim Sullivan has been restoring the Chapel pews over the last year. The dry atmosphere of the Chapel has warped the wooden pews over the years.
Head carpenter Jim Sullivan has been restoring the Chapel pews over the last year. The dry atmosphere of the Chapel has warped the wooden pews over the years.
Metals, molecules, and medicine: chemical biology’s influence on health and sustainability
Aanya KaseraChemistry professor Chris Chang’s lab studies the chemical biology of the elements, specifically examining the roles that copper, iron, and zinc play in biology across all kingdoms of life.
Chemistry professor Chris Chang’s lab studies the chemical biology of the elements, specifically examining the roles that copper, iron, and zinc play in biology across all kingdoms of life.