Recent FBI file releases have shed light on the activities and careers of several prominent scientists and medical professionals, including Harold Alexander Abramson and Robert Fox Bacher. Abramson, a physician and early advocate of therapeutic LSD, was involved in the CIA’s MKULTRA program that investigated potential military applications of LSD. Meanwhile, Bacher, a nuclear physicist and Manhattan Project leader, played a critical role in making Los Alamos a civilian research facility and coordinating key nuclear weapons development efforts during World War II.
The documents, obtained and archived with the assistance of transparency activist Russ Kick’s family and researcher Dr. Susan Maret, provide detailed information on these individuals’ scientific achievements and government collaborations. The FBI releases span extensive pages and megabytes of data, including records on experiments, administrative roles, and official correspondence. The files illuminate the interplay between pioneering scientific research and federal intelligence or defense activities during mid-20th century America.
These disclosures contribute to a broader understanding of how scientific innovation intersected with government interests during pivotal moments in history, such as the atomic bomb development and Cold War-era mind control experiments. Examining figures like Abramson and Bacher highlights the ethical, legal, and societal complexities that accompanied advancements in nuclear physics and psychopharmacology. The files underscore ongoing debates about transparency, oversight, and the legacy of classified research programs that shaped modern science and security policy.
Source: The Black Vault
