Carlo Rovelli: "Out of fear of an atomic bomb in Hitler's hands, we entered the nuclear age"

Carlo Rovelli discusses the historical context of nuclear weapons development during World War II, emphasizing that the U.S. invested significantly more than Germany. He argues that German scientists, particularly Heisenberg, believed it was impractical to develop a bomb before the war's end. In contrast, American scientists, motivated by fear of Nazi Germany, pushed for a massive effort to create the atomic bomb, despite the reality that Germany was not close to achieving it. Rovelli highlights the paradox of the nuclear age beginning from a fear of a non-existent threat. He also reflects on the subsequent nuclear arms race, the balance of terror, and the current state of nuclear weapons, noting that the world is now more dangerous due to rising tensions and the potential for catastrophic conflict.