Recognized for its excellence in connecting basic research to innovative technology, Argonne is a direct descendant of the University of Chicago's Metallurgical Laboratory, part of the World War Two Manhattan Project. It was at the Met Lab where, on Dec. 2, 1942, Enrico Fermi and his band of about 50 colleagues created the world's first controlled nuclear chain reaction in a racquets court at the University of Chicago. Fermi believed that a collaborative approach to science would deepen understanding and result in greater value. Over the years, Argonne has embraced Fermi's beliefs, creating one of the world's broadest scientific institutes, bringing together many areas of science, engineering and technology.
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