And there was light

** "And There Was Light" by Lester Del Rey is a science fiction story that examines the potentially destructive nature of new scientific developments and the complex moral questions humanity could face with devastating technology. The narrative introduces Johann Volcek, a brilliant scientist, and his wife, Stefanie, as Johann nears a pivotal test of his revolutionary nitrogen fission control method, a technology poised to serve as a potent weapon. However, the test takes a dark turn when it becomes clear that Johann's invention is intended to sterilize the Western population, a drastic measure justified by the Director of Centralia as a necessary step towards achieving global peace, but a terrible error occurs during the test which forces Johann to wrestle with the profound moral implications of his actions when Stefanie's dreams are destroyed, leaving readers to question whether the pursuit of progress and peace justifies extreme sacrifice and devastating loss. **