HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWS RELEASE
The Los Alamos Historical Society is pleased to announce its upcoming free lecture, on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, from7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Pajarito Room of historic Fuller Lodge. The evening will feature award-winning author Alec Nevala-Lee, followed by a book signing of his latest work, Collisions: A Physicist’s Journey from Hiroshima to the Death of the Dinosaurs. Copies of the book are available now in the Museum Shop and will also be available for purchase at the event.
Kicking off the 2025–2026 lecture series, Nevala-Lee will offer a compelling exploration of the life and legacy of Luis Alvarez, as told in Collisions, the first full biography of Nobel Prize winning physicist Luis W. Alvarez. Known for his pivotal role in the Manhattan Project and as the lead scientific observer at the bombing of Hiroshima, Alvarez’s legacy extends far beyond his wartime contributions. Collisions explores the breadth of his scientific achievements—from particle physics to the dinosaur extinction theory. Nevala-Lee brings to life the dynamic and wide-ranging career of the man once called “the greatest scientific detective of the twentieth century.”
Alec Nevala-Lee is an author and historian whose work explores the intersection of science, culture, and biography. His previous books include Astounding, a finalist for the Hugo and Locus Awards, and Inventor of the Future, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Slate, and Analog Science Fiction and Fact, where he also edits the bimonthly puzzle feature “Unknowns.” Nevala-Lee is a graduate of Harvard College and lives in Oak Park, Illinois. He is currently working on Whiz Kids: The Oracles of RAND and the World They Made, which will be released by Norton in 2028.
The Los Alamos Historical Society extends a heartfelt appreciation to Enterprise Bank and Trust for their generous sponsorship of our 2025-2026 Lecture Series and their ongoing commitment to supporting the programs and initiatives of the Los Alamos Historical Society. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to seeing you September 9th!