Emma Anson Rotor worked on developing the short-range bomb, an innovative weapon technology in World War II, which the U.S. War Department described as “second only to the atomic bomb.”
Background
In 1941, Emma Anson Rotor, a mathematics teacher in the Philippines, decided to take a leave to study physics at Johns Hopkins University. However, her plans were interrupted when the Imperial Japanese Army invaded and occupied the Philippines.
Work in the Weapons Development Division
Due to her inability to access her Philippine government grant to study at Johns Hopkins University, Emma joined the Weapons Development Division of the National Bureau of Standards. It was here that she conducted innovative research on the short-range bomb, which was described as “the world’s first smart weapon,” according to physicist Frank Belknap Baldwin, who also helped develop this technology.
The Lost Legacy
Emma’s work in the Weapons Development Division was not much talked about, which is the main reason her story was initially lost. Emma never spoke about her work on the short-range bomb, and this was also by design.
The Positive Impact
Although the short-range bomb was used for destruction, it also led to the development of miniaturized electronics and the plastics industry in the United States. It significantly impacted the electronics industry in the United States and contributed to the beginning of the electronics industry.
Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/this-filipina-physicist-helped-develop-a-top-secret-weapon/
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