Teller was born in Budapest on January 15, 1908. He attended the Karlsruhe Technische Hochschule, the University of Munich, and the University of Leipzig. He earned his Ph.D. degree in theoretical physics at Leipzig in 1930.

Teller's earliest research interests involved the application of quantum theory to physical chemistry. His first paper, "Hydrogen Molecular Ions" outlines a theory of the hydrogen molecule that is still widely accepted. From 1931 to 1933, Teller continued his research at the University of Göttingen. Following that period, he spent a year working with Niels Bohr at the University of Copenhagen.

By the mid-1930s, it had become clear to many European scientists that they could not continue to work in their homelands. The rise of fascist governments in Germany and Italy created a serious threat not only to their scientific careers, but also to their very survival. Teller was one of dozens of researchers...