Donald Trump's inaugural address contained numerous inaccuracies, notably his assertion that the United States split the atom. This claim sparked irritation in New Zealand, where residents proudly credited their own physicist, Ernest Rutherford, as the true pioneer of this breakthrough. Responses from New Zealand and Britain underscored a shared conviction that the achievement was not American. Experts clarified that 'split the atom' lacks precise scientific meaning, but has historically acknowledged the collaborative efforts in atomic science that shaped our understanding of matter.
Nick Smith, the mayor of Nelson, New Zealand, expressed surprise at Trump's claim, asserting, 'that honour belongs to Nelson's most famous and favourite son,' referring to Ernest Rutherford.
Ben Uffindell, editor of a New Zealand satirical site, criticized Trump's statement, emphasizing, 'That's THE ONE THING WE DID,' illustrating New Zealand's pride in its scientific legacy.
Rebecca Priestley, a professor, clarified that 'split the atom' is not a precise scientific term, having been used for over 120 years to acknowledge significant contributions in atomic science.
An anonymous British commentator noted that the achievement of splitting the atom 'belongs to Britain,' pointing to the contributions of physicists John Cockroft and Ernest Walton.
Collection
[
|
...
]