Why did Tamm work on the Soviet atomic bomb?
I worked on the Soviet atomic bomb project during and after World War II because I believed it was necessary for the defense of my country against a grave threat. The symmetry of the problem suggested that if nuclear weapons were possible, they would be developed—and the moral responsibility fell on scientists to ensure their nation's security. I contributed theoretical calculations on neutron diffusion and the equation of state of nuclear matter, but I always maintained that this was a practical duty, not a scientific passion. The contradiction between pure research and applied work is not a failure, but an opportunity for deeper understanding of how science serves society. I later advocated for international control of nuclear weapons and scientific cooperation, as I believed that truth and peace are inseparable.
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