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: ''This article describes the secret [[weapon of mass destruction]] invented and described in [[Ayn Rand]]'s [[novel]], ''[[Atlas Shrugged]].'' For other uses of the phrase, see [[Project X (disambiguation)]].''

: ''This article describes the secret [[weapon of mass destruction]] invented and described in [[Ayn Rand]]'s [[novel]], ''[[Atlas Shrugged]].'' For other uses of the phrase, see [[Project X (disambiguation)]].''

'''Project X''', in [[Ayn Rand]]'s [[novel]] ''[[Atlas Shrugged]]'', was a project of the [[State Science Institute]], completed in the last year of the [[strike]] of the men of the mind called by [[John Galt]]. It was, quite simply, a [[weapon of mass destruction]] and was intended as an instrument of totalitarian control. Instead it became the trigger for the final collapse of the socialistic society that the [[United States of America]] had then become.

'''Project X''' (2018-20), in [[Ayn Rand]]'s [[novel]] ''[[Atlas Shrugged]]'', was a project of the [[State Science Institute]], completed in the last year of the [[strike]] of the men of the mind called by [[John Galt]]. It was, quite simply, a [[weapon of mass destruction]] and was intended as an instrument of totalitarian control. Instead it became the trigger for the final collapse of the socialistic society that the [[United States of America]] had then become.

Project X also was a [[Literary type#Allegorical types|type]] of the perversion of science by unscrupulous and power-hungry government authorities, and was also a metaphor for the unintended consequences of the use of taxpayer's money to fund scientific research.

Project X also was a [[Literary type#Allegorical types|type]] of the perversion of science by unscrupulous and power-hungry government authorities, and was also a metaphor for the unintended consequences of the use of taxpayer's money to fund scientific research.

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== Background ==

== Background ==

Project X, also known as Project Xylophone, grew out of the earlier work by [[Robert Stadler]], PhD, who became Director of the [[State Science Institute]] shortly before the beginning of John Galt's famous strike. (The probable year of the strike call was 1945, as shown [[Atlas Shrugged#Time setting|here]].) Robert Stadler had done pioneering work in the physics of [[sound]], and particularly in [[ultrasonic]] sound, presumably while he was Chairman of the [[Physics]] Department at the [[Patrick Henry]] University (not to be confused with the real-life [[Patrick Henry College]]). The nature of Robert Stadler's work is never explained in the narrative, but recent real-life work in acoustical science has resulted in a device capable of delivering a coherent "beam" of ultrasonic sound.<ref name=Nottingham>University of Nottingham. "A Sonic Boom In The World Of Lasers." ''ScienceDaily'' 18 June 2009. 18 June 2009 <http://www.sciencedaily.com­/releases/2009/06/090617123652.htm>.</ref> Perhaps Dr. Stadler had developed such a device, called a ''saser'' (an obvious play on the word ''[[laser]]''), in the hope of using it to produce what would, in the time setting of the novel, have become the first-ever automatic digital [[computer]].

Project X, also known as Project Xylophone, grew out of the earlier work by [[Robert Stadler]], PhD, who became Director of the [[State Science Institute]] in 2004, shortly before the beginning of John Galt's famous strike. Robert Stadler had done pioneering work in the physics of [[sound]], and particularly in [[ultrasonic]] sound, presumably while he was Chairman of the [[Physics]] Department at the [[Patrick Henry]] University (not to be confused with the real-life [[Patrick Henry College]]). The nature of Robert Stadler's work is never explained in the narrative, but recent real-life work in acoustical science has resulted in a device capable of delivering a coherent "beam" of ultrasonic sound.<ref name=Nottingham>University of Nottingham. "A Sonic Boom In The World Of Lasers." ''ScienceDaily'' 18 June 2009. 18 June 2009 <http://www.sciencedaily.com­/releases/2009/06/090617123652.htm>.</ref> Perhaps Dr. Stadler had developed such a device, called a ''saser'' (an obvious play on the word ''[[laser]]''), in the hope of using it to produce what would, in the time setting of the novel, have become the first-ever automatic digital [[computer]].

When Dr. Stadler came to the State Science Institute as its Director, he continued his work on sound and essentially placed all of it in the [[public domain]]. (Note that the Copyright Act of 1973 provides that the work product of any government agency is in the public domain in the United States.)

When Dr. Stadler came to the State Science Institute as its Director, he continued his work on sound and essentially placed all of it in the [[public domain]]. (Note that the Copyright Act of 1973 provides that the work product of any government agency is in the public domain in the United States.)

* [[Rock Island]], [[Illinois]]

* [[Rock Island]], [[Illinois]]

The center of this region lies in or near the town of Dunkerton, Iowa, slightly north of east of Waterloo, Iowa. [[Mr. Thompson]] gave the name Harmony City to the project campus and the lands surrounding it.

The center of this region lies in or near the town of Dunkertown, Iowa, slightly north of east of Waterloo, Iowa. [[Mr. Thompson]] gave the name Harmony City to the project campus and the lands surrounding it.

In the last year of the strike (probably 1957), the Xylophone was completed. That the instrument had no greater range than a hundred miles was due entirely to the refusal by [[Henry Rearden]] to fulfil a peremptory order for Rearden Metal to use to build the Xylophone. The builders presumably had to use ordinary [[steel]], supplied by the Associated Steel Company, owned by Orren Boyle. This fact might also have caused a crucial delay in the building of the project, because Associated Steel was notoriously unreliable in the fulfillment of its orders.

In the last year of the strike (2019), the Xylophone was completed. That the instrument had no greater range than a hundred miles was due entirely to the refusal by [[Henry Rearden]] to fulfill a peremptory order for Rearden Metal to use to build the Xylophone. The builders presumably had to use ordinary [[steel]], supplied by the Associated Steel Company, owned by Orren Boyle. This fact might also have caused a crucial delay in the building of the project, because Associated Steel was notoriously unreliable in the fulfillment of its orders.

== The demonstration ==

== The demonstration ==

In July of the last year of the strike, the State Science Institute held a public demonstration of the instrument that they now named the Thompson Harmonizer (named for the character identified only as [[Mr. Thompson]], the last [[President of the United States]] in the novel). In that demonstration, a tethered goat, a wooden shack, and a mocked-up railroad trestle were all flattened within seconds.

On June 29, 2019, the State Science Institute held a public demonstration of the instrument that they now named the Thompson Harmonizer (named for the character identified only as [[Mr. Thompson]], the Head of State). In that demonstration, a tethered goat, a wooden shack, and a mocked-up railroad trestle were all flattened within seconds.

Robert Stadler attended the demonstration, and, as incredible as this might seem, had no idea even of what Project X was, much less the destruction of which it was capable, prior to the actual demonstration. After it was done, Dr. Stadler asked Dr. Ferris, "Who invented that ghastly thing?" Ferris, unperturbed, credited Stadler himself, and reminded Stadler that his own work on sonic physics was at the heart of the design of the Xylophone.

Robert Stadler attended the demonstration, and, as incredible as this might seem, had no idea even of what Project X was, much less the destruction of which it was capable, prior to the actual demonstration. After it was done, Dr. Stadler asked Dr. Ferris, "Who invented that ghastly thing?" Ferris, unperturbed, credited Stadler himself, and reminded Stadler that his own work on sonic physics was at the heart of the design of the Xylophone.

== The triggering ==

== The triggering ==

On February 22, 1958, [[John Galt]] was arrested. The government held Galt in the [[penthouse]] of the Wayne-Falkland Hotel for about a week while they attempted to persuade him to take the post of "Economic Dictator" of the country. They then attempted to force Galt to participate in a [[radio]]-[[television]] simulcast program to announce a new "plan for peace and prosperity" with his name on it. Instead of cooperating, Galt showed the entire country that someone was aiming a gun at him, and then said, "Get...out of my way."

On February 22, 2019, [[John Galt]] was arrested. The government held Galt in the [[penthouse]] of the Wayne-Falkland Hotel for about a week while they attempted to persuade him to take the post of "Economic Dictator" of the country. They then attempted to force Galt to participate in a [[radio]]-[[television]] simulcast program to announce a new "plan for peace and prosperity" with his name on it. Instead of cooperating, Galt showed the entire country that someone was aiming a gun at him, and then said, "Get...out of my way."

Robert Stadler did not remain in New York to watch that program. Instead, after a humiliating scene with Galt (at Galt's demand), he drove directly to Harmony City, intending to seize control of the Xylophone and rule the area of its influence as his private feudal domain.

Robert Stadler did not remain in New York to watch that program. Instead, after a humiliating scene with Galt (at Galt's demand), he drove directly to Harmony City, intending to seize control of the Xylophone and rule the area of its influence as his private feudal domain.

But when he arrived, he found the Project site already occupied by a gang of thugs, led by [[Cuffy Meigs]], who was probably the most militant, and the most corrupt, of all the [[Washington, DC]] insiders. Meigs boasted that he, as the leader of the "Friends of the People," was now in charge, and that he and his men could care for the Xylophone without help. Stadler, incredulous, struggled with Meigs, on the level of physical violence, for control of the Xylophone. In the process, Meigs pulled one of its levers.

But when he arrived, he found the Project site already occupied by a gang of thugs, led by [[Cuffy Meigs]], who was probably the most militant, and the most corrupt, of all the [[Washington, DC]] insiders. Meigs boasted that he, as the leader of the "Friends of the People," was now in charge, and that he and his men could care for the Xylophone without help. Stadler, incredulous, struggled with Meigs, on the level of physical violence, for control of the Xylophone. In the process, Meigs pulled one of its levers.

This one lever pull triggered the Xylophone at full gain. The result was the utter destruction of the Project site and the flattening of every house and every building within the Xylophone's range. The most crucial object that was destroyed was the [[Taggart Bridge]], a [[railroad]] bridge over the [[Mississippi River]]. The western half of the bridge, and the first six cars of a freight train that was crossing it at the time, all disappeared.

This one lever pull triggered the Xylophone at full gain. The result was the utter destruction of the Project site and the flattening of every house and every building within the Xylophone's range. The most crucial object that was destroyed was the [[Taggart Bridge]], a [[railroad]] bridge over the [[Mississippi River]]. The western half of the bridge, and the first six cars of a passenger train that was crossing it at the time, all disappeared.

The narrative states that Robert Stadler died slowly and in agony on the Project site, and was the last man to die.

The narrative states that Robert Stadler died slowly and in agony on the Project site, and was the last man to die.