Taylor was present at the Trinity ( nuclear test ) , July 16 , 1945 , as part of General Leslie Groves ' " VIP List " of just 10 people who observed the test from Compania Hill , about 20 miles ( 32 km ) northwest of the shot tower . By a strange twist , Joan Hinton , another direct descendant of the mathematician , George Boole , had been working on the same project and witnessed the event in an unofficial capacity . They met at the time but later followed different paths : Joan , strongly opposed to nuclear weapons , to defect to Mao 's China , Taylor to hold throughout his career the view that governmental policy was not within the remit of the scientist
Trinity ( nuclear test )
Trinity (nuclear test)
G. I. Taylor