J. Robert Oppenheimer, known to all as the "father of the atomic bomb," was the force behind the Manhattan Project, and was responsible for overseeing the development of the world's first atomic bomb. The deployment of this particular atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki finally led to the conclusion of World War II.
Oppenheimer, born on April 22, 1904, in New York City to German Jewish immigrants, had an intellectual prowess from an early age. After graduating from Harvard University with a major in chemistry, he ended up pursuing graduate work at Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, England, under JJ Thomson, the Nobel laureate known to discover the electron. However, Oppenheimer, during his research days, delved into theoretical physics, which led him to study under Max Born in Germany.
When World War II erupted in the United States, he was appointed director of the Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico, and that’s how the Manhattan Project, a top-secret US Army experiment to develop an atomic bomb, came into existence. He assembled a team of scientists, engineers, and technicians for the design and development.
Oppenheimer oversaw the research and development efforts to produce sufficient enriched uranium and plutonium, as well as to devise methods for isotope separation and create a sustainable chain reaction, all crucial steps toward harnessing the immense power of nuclear fission.
His endeavors culminated in July 1945, when the first atomic bomb, codenamed "Trinity," was successfully detonated in the New Mexico desert.
Nolan’s Film On Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer, in a television interview in 1965, had once said, "I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and to impress him takes on his multi-armed form and says, "Now, I am becoming Death, the destroyer of worlds,” as he reflected on his creation that ended the second World War.
Christopher Nolan, known to explore themes of space, time, and dream worlds, is back with his next directorial venture, "Oppenheimer," with Cillian Murphy in the lead role. To say the least, Oppenheimer did play an important role in the scientific and military undertakings of the 20th century, and a film on him would help convey that historical importance to the world. Also, the film is likely to showcase the dilemma of ethical questions surrounding responsible scientific knowledge.
Oppenheimer's story will certainly highlight the scientific curiosity and dedication, which shaped human history.
