Little known story: How a Chinese woman rescued B Reactor, launching atomic age

A woman from China, educated as a physicist, played a pivotal but largely overlooked role during World War II in rescuing Hanford’s historic B Reactor and launching the nuclear site in Eastern Washington.

The B Reactor Museum Association plans a free talk about Chien-Shiung Wu’s extraordinary life and scientific legacy at 6 p.m. Monday, March 9, at the Richland Public Library.

Megan Simpson, a history major and docent with the Manhattan Project National Historical Park at Hanford, will speak.

When Hanford’s B Reactor, the first full-scale nuclear production reactor was started up in September 1944 less than a year after construction started, there was considerable uncertainty if it would operate.

It powered up, but soon went dead.

Thanks to the research done by Wu, the problem was both traced to xenon “poisoning” and also a solution was found.

B Reactor was started again, and the atomic age was launched.

Simpson’s talk will focus on Wu’s science and women’s contributions to nuclear science.

Her work focuses on making complex scientific and historical topics accessible and engaging for public audiences.

This story was originally published March 4, 2026 at 3:52 PM.