343. Oppenheimer: The Father of the Atom Bomb

“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” This was J. Robert Oppenheimer’s reaction to the first atomic bomb test in July 1945, marking the beginning of the nuclear age. Oppenheimer, an American theoretical physicist of Jewish-German descent, was in charge of the American nuclear project, leading the Los Alamos laboratory and tasked with developing “the bomb” in 1943, following his involvement in the Manhattan Project. Join Tom and Dominic as they delve into the life of the man behind “the weapon to end all wars”.
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[@voltzar2945]

“they bring in generators, cyclotrons, and lab things- “what’s a cyclotron?” “it’s an important lab-thing.” 😂

[@kevin-ra447]

Never thought I'd hear Tom Holland call Oppenheimer a rapey-nerd lmao. I love this pod cheers

[@voltzar2945]

that had me laughing 😂

[@champagnesupernova5745]

Hello from southern New Mexico, near Trinity Site.

[@mackmoore9044]

Love your show. You make history fun.

[@Psmith-ek5hq]

Yes, but not as much fun as Philomena Cunk, who Tom was interviewed by.

[@beback_]

Lol "a chap called Niels Bohr" one of the greatest physicists of all time

[@LooseTheremin]

Quite right Tom ! All Oppy needed to do was pull himself together and snap out of it ! Still the fact that the Father of the Atom Bomb was a homicidal maniac probably did him no harm when he was being considered for the job.

[@messrsandersonco5985]

I don't think it's fair to say Oppenheimer was the most intelligent man on earth. That award goes to Einstein. Oppenheimer's superpower was his ability to bring people together and his exceptional administration - attributes which are not normally associated with scientists - then or now! 😉

[@baltasarnoreno5973]

YES, heavy water was an essential material in nuclear physics for producing a sufficient quantity of fissile isotopes needed to make a bomb. And YES, there was a major production facility in Norway for producing heavy water. The plant was eventually put out of action by Allied bombing raids.

[@RamonesFan201]

lucky them huh?

[@baltasarnoreno5973]

@@RamonesFan201 Lucky indeed. Unless you think that a Nazi Germany with nuclear weapons was a desirable outcome.

[@RamonesFan201]

@@baltasarnoreno5973 ohh absolutely not lol

[@kindnesslove5482]

There was a sabotage mission. Good movie about it.

[@faeembrugh]

It's a nuclear moderator isn't it? In other words it slows down neutrons to make it easier for them to bind with uranium atoms to produce fission i.e. a chain reaction. Correct me if I'm wrong, I haven't studied physics for some time.

[@gosiachaaban2484]

In Sye Ryder's book: Child of my love, she writes about using the bomb against Japan and according to her it felt then the right thing to do. It was meant to stop the war and she also gives an example of Japanese practice of using their school children to detonate minefields - they would be brought to a minefield to walk in front of the army.....

[@HomeFromFarAway]

I haven't been able to find more info on the children in the minefields. do you know where I can look this up?

[@arthurfarrow]

Spinoza andsphincters?

[@radiantmessenger3369]

Did I hear that right? A scientist didn't understand the directions, that he had to wear an oxygen mask in a Bomber?

[@nomorephones]

"Let's put a veil on it", cracked me wide open, by now I've ditched the history. I'm here for the advanced English proverbs. Cheers, Israel.

[@greyforge27]

"So he's a faintly rapey nerd." I'm so glad Tom occasionally throws in lines like this to leaven the unbearably posh and erudite tone

[@messrsandersonco5985]

It's only posh if you never went to university and got an education.

[@Johnconno]

Limey Yuppies.

[@girtbysea7831]

To paraphrase the cliche, what would have happened if he had been a better poet.

[@kindnesslove5482]

That's some wiiiild personal information !!

[@dean-543]

Strangulation and crying…Yikes.

[@voltzar2945]

@@dean-543very good womaniser l😂

[@bnjmnwst]

First

[@dean-543]

Could have done without the Wilfred Owen jokes.

[@deepakkhare4993]

Very interesting. However your intermittent chitchat, attempted lighthearted diversions like the Regan thing and mention of Emily blunt etc break the flow of the narrative. The Spinoza and sphincter refference in my opinion was in poor taste.

[@carlossaraiva8213]

You must be so much fun at parties.

[@messrsandersonco5985]

@deepakkhare: That depends if you think Spinoza was a laugh. He wasn't. He was a miserable man and not the type of person you'd invite to a party. If you don't believe in facts and the existence of bad, odd poetry, I'm not sure what to why you're even listening to this podcast!

[@johnjohn-kn2kt]

Honestly annoying when they make fun of historical figures and mock them. Making fun of him for being awkward around girls like... They know what they look like right?

[@carlossaraiva8213]

Them being english i'm sure that is the entire point of cracking jokes about nerds when they are nerds themselves. Its called self-deprecation, a type of humour rare among americans and their sense of self-importance and fragille egos.

[@messrsandersonco5985]

Scientists being unable attract girls at university is both a stereotype, and frankly a truism in my experience. Pretty girls don't tend to go for boffins as they're awkward socially and unable to carry general conversation. Not all lack a sense of humour. However, most are rather dour.

[@ralphyznaga1761]

@@carlossaraiva8213whatever dude

[@Claxen11]

Omg...people get triggered for the most ridiculous things. You can tell that they aren't people that are bully and degrade nerds but just your nerdy friends having a laugh with you. By the way I'm Italian and I still get it.