A new restriction on international scientific relations?

During the 12th Solvay Conference on Chemistry, tensions escalate between the Soviet and US delegations. The topic of this Conference, ‘Energy transfer in gases’, is particularly sensitive.

Indeed, both blocs are involved in a Space Race, and the type of fuel to be used for the shuttles proves to be a particularly sensitive issue since gases are being considered as a possible fuel option. 

In 1947 already, the physicist Friedrich A. Paneth was prevented by the McMahon Bill from presenting his research at the 7th Conference on Chemistry (the first to be held since the war) on the grounds of protecting atomic secrets.

Obviously there is no comparison between the Cold War and the two World Wars, but the former nevertheless impedes international scientific relations. This time, Soviet scientists are ostracized, sometimes on the order of their own authorities, as the ‘Levich affair’ proves.