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About this quote

What does it mean?
Rutherford's work on nuclear bombardment was the key first step in solving how to change one element into another.
In plain terms
Changing elements started with Rutherford's nuclear experiments.
What can you take from it?
Progress in science often depends on one critical breakthrough.

Where it applies

  • scientific history
  • research funding
  • education

Putting it to work

  • study pioneers
  • trace methods
  • credit contributors

Questions to consider

  • Who deserves credit for the first real step?
  • What is the bottleneck in your work?

Another view

Focusing on one step may overlook earlier groundwork.

More from Enrico Fermi

  1. Such a weapon goes far beyond any military objective and enters the range of very great natural catastrophes. By its very nature it cannot be confined to a mil…

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  3. I cannot think of a single one, not even intelligence.

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