Ep. #7: Oscar Seborer, Manhattan Project Spy; Confirmed in 2019

It’s been long known that Klaus Fuchs, Theodore Hall, and David Greenglass committed espionage at Project Y—the Los Alamos branch of the Manhattan Project—during World War II. Each worked at the secret laboratory charged with creating the world’s first atomic bombs, each stole classified weapons information, and each shared it with the Soviet Union. Just recently though, in September 2019, historians confirmed a fourth wartime spy: Oscar Seborer.

In this episode of the National Security Science podcast, National Security Science writer Weston Phippen talks to Los Alamos National Laboratory senior historian Alan Carr about Seborer’s time at Los Alamos and the spy’s possible contributions to the Soviet nuclear weapons program. 

For more on Seborer at Los Alamos, make sure to read this article in the summer 2021 issue of National Security Science magazine.

The National Security Science podcast is a spin-off of National Security Science magazine at Los Alamos National Laboratory. We bring you stories from the Lab’s Weapons Program—stories that show how innovative science and engineering are the key to keeping America safe. Or, as we like to say, better science equals better security.

Read National Security Science magazine online here. Request a print copy or provide feedback by emailing [email protected].

Illustration for this episode's artwork: Los Alamos National Laboratory/Brenda Fleming

LA-UR-21-28652

Previous title: The fourth atomic spy