When the rods were pushed back in and the clicking had died down, we suddenly experiences a let-down feeling, for all of us understood the language of the counter. Even though we had anticipated the success of the experiment, its accomplishment had a deep impact on us. For some time we had known that we were about to unlock a giant; still we could not escape an eerie feeling when we had actually done it. We felt as, I presume, everyone feels who has done something that he knowns will have very far-reaching consequences which he cannot foresee. . Eugene Wigner
About This Quote

In 1928, a physicist named Van de Graaff built a device that could electrocute a person. He would push a button and a 1,000 volt current would flow through a metal bar and the poor soul holding the bar would get an electric shock. The power of this machine was incredible to think about and it was all based off of science. It is important to remember that when scientists were building this machine they did not know what the world would be like in 50 years or what would happen if they let it go.

Even though they knew the impact their work might have on future generations they did not know what type of world they were creating. Yet, despite this they built the machine anyway because they felt that it was important to share the knowledge with society.

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  1. When the rods were pushed back in and the clicking had died down, we suddenly experiences a let-down feeling, for all of us understood the language of the counter. Even though we had anticipated the success of the experiment, its accomplishment had a deep impact...
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