Nuclear chain reaction

Analogous to a chemical chain reaction, the concept of a nuclear chain reaction was described where one neutron would disrupt a nucleus and produce two neutrons, which would disrupt two nuclei, producing four neutrons, etc. This concept paved the way for nuclear reactors and atomic bombs.
 Leo Szilard Hungary 1939 Nuclear chain reaction

Analogous to a chemical chain reaction, the concept of a nuclear chain reaction was described where one neutron would disrupt a nucleus and produce two neutrons, which would disrupt two nuclei, producing four neutrons, etc. This concept paved the way for nuclear reactors and atomic bombs.