How do “secret” atomic-energy weapons get discussed in the New York Times in May 1945, months before Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
A month ago there was one of these old articles. It was just a snippet, and it was quoting some guy (like a plumber or something that worked for the government!) that talked about a “super weapon” that would end the war.
They portrayed the guy as nuts. And maybe he was. Or....
I suspect that the “idea” of atomic energy was not that far fetched in the spring of 45. Now as to what was meant by atomic energy was probably rather nebulous.
For an example see the story Waldo by Robert Heinlein published in August of 1942. Here is the Wikipedia article on the story
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldo_%28short_story%29
Regards
alfa6 ;>}