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One of history’s greatest “what ifs” is the question of what would have happened had the Germans been able to develop nuclear weapons during the Second World War. The Wehrmacht’s effort to do just that, called the Uranverein, or “Uranium Club,” began in 1939 when German Army physicist Kurt Diebner began to research the potential military applications of nuclear fission. By year’s end, the renowned German physicist Werner Heisenberg had expressed his belief that nuclear fission chain reactions, and thus, eventually, nuclear bombs, might be possible, but only if he had access to enough of a singular substance known as...

Norway's two biggest companies want to form one of the biggest oil companies in the world, through a merger between Statoil and the oil and gas division of Norsk Hydro. Both companies are heavily state-owned, and government officials are supporting the pending deal. Statoil's young boss, Helge Lund, would become chief executive of the new oil giant, while Hydro chief executive Eivind Reiten would become chairman of the merged company. Reiten would remain chief executive of Hydro Aluminium, which would also retain Hydro's operations within the hydro-electric and solar industries. Lund called the merger "an historic milestone," adding that "the...

Our field, maritime archaeology, is not only a spoon and brush affair, especially not deep-water archaeology. We collaborate with the oil and gas industry, and take part in developing new technology. The sea is not an easily accessible place, so we have to think modern to be able to map the bottom... You know, Poland under communism was a different place than it is now. Political opposition was not allowed. I had the wrong opinions. I was more or less urged to leave my country. Norway was one of the places I had friends, so I came here on what...

Yara wins Ethiopian contracts after handing out prize Oslo-based Yara International, one of the world's largest fertilizer makers, has won some major contracts in Ethiopia, just three months after it awarded a controversial prize to Ethiopia's prime minister. Yara boss Thorleif Enger (left) awarded a prize and USD 200,000 to controversial Ethiopian president Meles Zenawi. Yara said it wanted to honor Zenawi's contribution to the African Green Revolution. PHOTO: HEIKO JUNGE/SCANPIX Protesters outside the Oslo Concert House didn't think Ethiopia's president deserved the prize. PHOTO: HEIKO JUNGE/SCANPIX Related stories: Yara ponders ship sale - 22.12.2005 Yara establishes African prize -...

UPDATE 1-Norway's Norsk Hydro confirms big oil find in Iran Wednesday 7 December 2005 By John Acher OSLO, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Norwegian energy and aluminium group Norsk Hydro (NHY.OL: Quote, Profile, Research) has made an oil discovery in western Iran, near the border with Iraq, that could be one of the most significant finds of recent years, Hydro said on Wednesday. Norsk Hydro made the Anaran discovery in April in an exploration partnership with Russia's Lukoil (LKOH.MO: Quote, Profile, Research), the company said. Hydro owns 75 percent of the exploration licence and Lukoil 25 percent. Hydro's head of oil...