Could the atomic energy contained in a gram of radium really drive a ship across the Atlantic? Did a traffic light near the Royal Institution really give Leo Szilard his idea of the chain reaction? And was Oppenheimer really the “father of the atomic bomb”?

Ri favourite, and former Christmas Lecturer Frank Close explains how an accidental discovery of a faint smudge on a photographic plate made by physicist Henry Becquerel in 1896 sparked a chain of discoveries which would unleash the atomic age, and reveals some of the myths that have grown around this saga.

Discover the story of how pursuit of this hidden nuclear power source, which began innocently and collaboratively, was overwhelmed by the politics of the 1930s, and following devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki opened the way to a still more terrible possibility: a thermonuclear bomb, the so-called “backyard weapon”, that could destroy all life on earth – from anywhere.

How To Get Your Tickets

1. Book your desired number of tickets and await an email from us confirming your order. This is NOT a ticket.

2. Present your confirmation on arrival at the venue. Ensure that you take personal ID with you or you may be turned away

Pricing Information

• You can choose a Free Ticket or a Free Ticket with £5 Donation - all £5 goes straight to the Royal Institution to continue their excellent scientific education work. Both tickets allow the same entry to the event.

• No further payment applies beyond the TFG booking fee

Additional Information

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Accessibility Information

• Please note: We recommend all access bookings are made directly through the event organiser, however, we are here to assist where possible. Please get in touch with us prior to booking if you have access requirements. For accessibility information please visit here