The U.S. project that developed the first atomic bomb was known as the Manhattan Project. Initiated during World War II, this secret program brought together top scientists, including J. Robert Oppenheimer and Enrico Fermi, to harness nuclear fission as a weapon. The project ultimately culminated in the creation of two atomic bombs, dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, which contributed to Japan's surrender and the conclusion of the war. The Manhattan Project not only marked a significant milestone in scientific achievement but also ushered in the nuclear age, altering global politics and military strategy permanently.