The first controlled chain nuclear reaction occurred on December 2, 1942, under the direction of Enrico Fermi at the University of Chicago. The experiment, called Chicago Pile-1, achieved a self-sustaining nuclear reaction for 28 minutes in an artificial reactor built under the bleachers of the college football stadium. This milestone was a crucial step in the development of nuclear energy and demonstrated the possibility of controlling nuclear fission.
Date: December 2, 1942.
Venue: Under the bleachers of the University of Chicago Football Stadium.
Principal Scientist: Enrico Fermi
Reactor Name: Chicago Pile-1 (CP-1).
Duration: The self-supported reaction lasted 28 minutes.
Meaning: It laid the foundation for future nuclear reactors and demonstrated that it was possible to control nuclear fission.
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