Ernest Lawrence changed science in a big way—with “big science.” Lawrence invented the cyclotron, also known as the proton accelerator. It was an innovation that led to the development of the atomic bombs dropped on Japan during World War II. But he also changed the way we do science by unabashedly entangling the government and military with corporations in order to drive innovation. It’s what we call the military-industrial complex.
On today’s Modern Notion Daily podcast, we’re talking with Michael Hiltzik, author of Big Science: Ernest Lawrence and the Invention That Launched the Military-Industrial Complex (Simon & Schuster, July 2015). Hiltzik chronicles the life of Lawrence and the new attitude he brought to the science world. Lawrence was handsome, professional, and suave, and these traits banished the stereotype of the mad scientist who is far removed from the everyman. He was even on the cover of Time magazine, which Hiltzik sees as a testament to his unprecedented fame.
Lawrence’s scientific contributions were integral to the Manhattan Project. Hiltzik documents Lawrence’s relationship with J. Robert Oppenheimer, perhaps the better-remembered scientist involved in the secret development of the bomb. The two men were opposites in many respects, but they had a deep connection—until, tragically, they fell out.
Because Lawrence was both well-liked and an accomplished scientist, he succeeded in bringing the interests of the military and industry together during the Manhattan Project. But President Eisenhower later recognized the dangers in doing so, ruminating publicly about how such a partnership would affect the public good. Hiltzik calls Eisenhower “prophetic” on this subject. But Lawrence didn’t live to see the military-industrial complex in the long term.
Later in the hour, we replay a story by reporter Daniel A. Gross about the post-World War II life of the cyclotron.
Music this hour:
- “Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within
- “Theme E” by Steve Combs & Delta Is, from the album Themes (Vol. 1)
- “The Professor’s Lab” by Christian Bjoerklund, from the album Skapmat
- “Electron” by Podington Bear, from the album Reflective
- “Superconductivity” by Jahzzar, from the album Kuddelmuddel
