Nuclear Energy The nuclear age began in Germany, in the 1930s in the lab of chemist Otto Hahn. Hahn was attempting to produce radium (In great need during the war) by bombarding uranium atoms with neutrons. To his surprise, he ended up with a much lighter element, barium. That was 1938, This started the race for the power of the atom. Just four years later Canada entered nuclear age in cooperation with the british. Wartime, 1942: The British wanted a safe place to conduct nuclear experiments; Since their country feared invasion by the nazi's or bombing attacks, Canada provided the