Talk:Einstein–Szilard letter

Question

why no one translates the entire letter here? I mean, it's an article about a letter, yet we don't have the full content in english... dafuk

The whole letter is there to read in the image. WP:NOFULLTEXT: Longer texts are best summarised with the full text placed on Wikisource, or given as an external link. Hawkeye7 (talk) 20:34, 26 August 2014 (UTC)

"At the time there was disagreement about whether it was uranium-235, which made up less than 1% of natural uranium, or the more abundant uranium-238 isotope, as Fermi maintained, that was primarily responsible for fission. Fermi and Szilárd conducted a series of experiments, and concluded that a chain reaction in natural uranium could be possible if they could find a suitable neutron moderator." To me, it sounds like they conducted experiments to confirm the isotope which is responsible for fission. Maybe just change the sentence a bit. ~~Some dumb guy~~

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Passive voice.

Given that this is a good article about a passive subject (a letter), I believe the passive voice should be retained. I restored the stable version but was reverted without discussion.

Here is the original version:

The Einstein–Szilárd letter was a letter written by Leó Szilárd and signed by Albert Einstein that was sent to the United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 2, 1939. Written by Szilárd in consultation with fellow Hungarian physicists Edward Teller and Eugene Wigner, the letter warned that Germany might develop atomic bombs and suggested that the United States should start its own nuclear program. It prompted action by Roosevelt, which eventually resulted in the Manhattan Project developing the first atomic bombs.

Here is the edit that I reverted:

The Einstein–Szilárd letter was a letter that Leó Szilárd wrote and Albert Einstein signed, which they sent to President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 2, 1939. Szilárd wrote it in consultation with fellow Hungarian physicists Edward Teller and Eugene Wigner, warning that Germany might develop atomic bombs and suggesting that the United States should start its own nuclear program. It prompted action by Roosevelt which resulted in the Manhattan Project developing the first atomic bombs.

I believe the former version far more appropriate. As per BRD I expect this to be discussed. For the moment, it should be retained.NEDOCHAN (talk) 15:37, 5 August 2019 (UTC)

Einstein’s role

Isaacson, mentioning among other things Szilard’s own recollections, is very clear that Einstein dictated the letter, which then later Szilard translated. He also writes that Einstein’s role was minimized later, including by himself. I believe this contrasts with parts of this article, and should merit some discussion.

I direct you to the pages 471–, and especially footnote 7 of that chapter. Walter Isaacson (2017), ISBN: 978-1-4711-7938-9. Euor (talk) 16:11, 12 May 2023 (UTC)

Another question

Why isn't the letter The Szillard-Teller-Wigner Letter? They wrote it. Einstein's name does not belong in the title. This is Pure Propaganda. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 47.180.5.76 (talk) 18:33, 13 September 2023 (UTC)

WP:COMMONNAME: Article titles are based on how reliable English-language sources refer to the article's subject. Hawkeye7 (discuss) 20:22, 13 September 2023 (UTC)