Scientists Against Time

Scientists Against Time is a nonfiction history book by James Phinney Baxter III. It was published in 1946 by Little, Brown and Company, and won the 1947 Pulitzer Prize for History.^[2]

Scientists Against Time

Pulitzer Prize in History 1947
Author	James Phinney Baxter III
Language	English
Genre	Non-fiction
Publisher	Little, Brown and Company[1]
Publication date	1946
Publication place	United States
Pages	473

The book provides a comprehensive account of the scientific and technical mobilization of the United States during World War II, detailing the crucial role played by scientists and engineers in supporting the Allied war effort through innovation and research.

Summary

Scientists Against Time delves into the rapid development and application of scientific discoveries and technological advances during World War II. Baxter meticulously documents how these contributions, from radar to the proximity fuse, played a decisive role in the Allied victory.^[3]

The book is structured around the challenges faced by the United States as it transitioned from a peacetime to a wartime footing, highlighting the establishment of organizations like the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD), led by Vannevar Bush.

Baxter's narrative covers a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:

• The development of radar technology and its impact on air and naval warfare.^[3]
• The invention and deployment of the proximity fuse.^[3]
• Advances in medicine, such as penicillin production and malaria control.^[3]
• The Manhattan Project and the atomic bomb.^[3]

Legacy

The legacy of Scientists Against Time is in its comprehensive portrayal of an era when science and technology became integral to national defense and strategy.^[4] It serves as a reminder of the potential for scientific innovation to alter the course of history.