The Manhattan project began in 1939 on October 15, led by the UK, Canada, and USA, employing great scientists and physicists such as Albert Einstein. The purpose of the project was to develop an atomic bomb before Nazi Germany was able to, although these plans eventually didn't fully work out. The project was based in Manhattan, but research and experiments took place in underground bunkers across the USA. The project began with research into uranium and certain uranium isotopes and how they could be used to trigger a nuclear explosion. After uranium was collected, analyzed, and found to be a good candidate for the nuclear bomb, research into the creation of these bombs began.