Neutron interactions with the nucleus

The International Conference on Neutron Interactions with the Nucleus was held at Columbia University, New York, from the 9th through the 13th of September, 1957, and attracted about 300 delegates from 13 countries including the Soviet Union. Professor I. I. Rabi, who presided, pointed out in his opening speech that 26 years ago the neutron was unknown, and 50 years ago even the nucleus was unknown, and yet today here were 300 scientists from all parts of the world gathered to discuss the interactions between these two entities. As if to stress the importance of neutron reactions in the modern world, the proceedings were then interrupted for a few minutes by the deafening noise of the New York air‐raid warning system which was being tested that morning.