J. Robert Oppenheimer!
“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” - J. Robert Oppenheimer
Biography of Oppenheimer
J. Robert Oppenheimer was an American physicist born on April 22, 1904, in New York City and passed away on February 18, 1967, in Princeton, New Jersey. He is known for his significant contributions to nuclear physics and his leadership of the Manhattan Project.
Oppenheimer was born into a wealthy family. His physical and mental talents were noticed at a young age. After completing his undergraduate studies at Harvard University, he earned his doctorate at Cambridge University.
He gained recognition for important contributions in theoretical physics, particularly in quantum mechanics, quantum field theory, and electrodynamics. His work to understand and explain theoretical physical processes earned him great respect in the academic world.
During World War II, Oppenheimer was appointed scientific director of the Manhattan Project by the United States Government. This project aimed to develop nuclear weapons. He led a team of scientists and engineers at the laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The project culminated with the Trinity test, where the first nuclear bomb was detonated.
After the nuclear bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Oppenheimer began to harbor deep concerns about the effects of nuclear weapons on humanity. After the war ended, he voiced the necessity of controlling nuclear arms.
During the Cold War, due to his leftist tendencies and some associations, Oppenheimer was subjected to a security investigation by the United States Government. The 1954 investigation concluded with Oppenheimer being labeled as untrustworthy, which sparked great controversy within the scientific community. Oppenheimer had to accept this decision.
After the security investigation, Oppenheimer continued teaching at the University of California, Berkeley, and pursued research in theoretical physics. He also continued efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
J. Robert Oppenheimer remains an important figure in the scientific world due to his key contributions to nuclear physics and his leadership in the Manhattan Project. He is remembered both for his scientific work and his ethical reflections.
Oppenheimer spoke six languages: Greek, Latin, French, German, Dutch, and Sanskrit. His particular interest in Sanskrit led him to read the Hindu sacred text Bhagavad Gita and to make his famous quote after the atomic bomb test.
He was a beloved and admired teacher among his students. Students who tried to dress and speak like him were called “nim nim boys.” Oppenheimer was very skilled at explaining physics in words and forming beautiful sentences.
During the Great Depression, Oppenheimer developed an interest in communism. His brother Frank and his wife Kitty were members of the communist party. This later caused his security investigation and jeopardized his role in the Manhattan Project.
Oppenheimer did not get along well with then U.S. President Harry Truman. Truman disliked Oppenheimer’s opposition to the use of the atomic bomb and insulted him by calling him “that son of a bitch.” Truman also approved Oppenheimer’s security investigation.
Oppenheimer Movie
Oppenheimer is a biographical thriller film released in 2023. The film tells the life story of American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, known as the father of the atomic bomb. It is adapted from the book American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. In the film, Oppenheimer is portrayed by Cillian Murphy, his wife Kitty by Emily Blunt, military director Leslie Groves by Matt Damon, and Atomic Energy Commission member Lewis Strauss by Robert Downey Jr. The film was shot using IMAX 65 mm and 65 mm large-format film. It received positive reviews from critics and grossed $231 million worldwide (so far).