Ep 1. The Manhattan Project

The show Mysteries at the Museum has been a fan-favorite for years for its in-depth coverage of seemingly ordinary items that turn out to have fascinating backstories. The latest season of the show, season 18, premieres with an episode titled "The Manhattan Project," which delves into the most pivotal and controversial scientific development of the 20th century.

The episode begins with host Don Wildman introducing viewers to the Oak Ridge Science Museum in Tennessee, where displays and artifacts from the Manhattan Project are on view. The Manhattan Project was a highly classified scientific research program during World War II, aimed at developing the first nuclear weapons. Oak Ridge was one of the major sites where work on the project was carried out, hence the museum's collection of artifacts relating to the project.

The show then dives into the history of the project, addressing how it came about and why it was kept secret for so long. We learn that the project was initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, in response to fears that Nazi Germany was developing nuclear weapons. The project involved recruiting top scientists from around the world to work on developing a nuclear bomb.

The show then takes us on a journey through the major sites where the work on the project was carried out, including the Los Alamos laboratory in New Mexico, where the actual bomb was developed. The Los Alamos laboratory is also where some of the most controversial aspects of the project took place, including the firing of physicist Robert Oppenheimer, who had led the development of the bomb.

Throughout the episode, we see a range of intriguing artifacts from the project, including a uranium sample that was smuggled out of Germany at great risk, a cipher device used to keep communications within the project secure, and a map used to plot the targets for the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan.

As with many episodes of Mysteries at the Museum, the show also takes some detours into seemingly unrelated items that tie into the episode's theme. In this case, we learn about a violin that survived the sinking of the Titanic, a seismograph that was used to detect nuclear tests, and a bizarre story involving a man who tried to create his own nuclear reactor in his backyard shed.

Overall, "The Manhattan Project" is a fascinating look at one of the most important events of the modern era, told through a combination of interviews, archival footage, and visits to relevant locations. The episode does an excellent job of highlighting both the scientific achievements and ethical dilemmas of the project, presenting a nuanced picture of a turning point in human history. Whether you're a history buff or just a fan of well-told stories, this season premiere is definitely worth a watch.