The purpose of the Manhattan Project was to develop the first nuclear weapons during World War II. Initiated in 1942, the project involved significant scientific research and military collaboration. In the context of wartime urgency, the project aimed to harness nuclear fission, resulting in the creation of atomic bombs. Its successful tests led to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, contributing to Japan's surrender and the end of the war. The Manhattan Project also marked a pivotal moment in scientific advancement and international relations, leading to the nuclear age and ongoing debates about nuclear proliferation.