Oppenheimer’s “Terrible Possibility” - Atmospheric Ignition

[@kylehill]

*Thanks for watching.* I know there are many videos on this topic, but this is my take on it. Yes, this is a re-imagining of a video I did 4 years ago. Hopefully the additional writing and style is evident. (Also give the Kevins some props for that thumbnail sheesh.)

[@bsgnerd]

You crushed it! Very nicely done

[@bsgnerd]

Also, I can not believe that number of negative people on the internet. It is mind numbing

[@obi-wankenobi4905]

Love your take on it

[@z3nithflame]

I was actually looking for a video of yours on the subject after watching the film, glad to see this 😮‍💨

[@jawico6098]

Most dangerous gadget.

[@bavettesAstartes]

It never sunk in how serious that first line is until now. "A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent." I can imagine people laughing at "the new toy" they got. I can imagine people crying over this new horror they created. But most important of all, I can never imagine myself doing anything other than just standing there and staring at it, like a deer in headlights. I can not imagine myself laughing or crying. Just looking. Paralyzed by would-be fear or the awe of all the possibilities.

[@ayushkumar-bg1xf]

silent people are normally those who knows real truth

[@blakemcmillan5680]

Don’t forget those who laugh due to them knowing what they had made, like their mind has no other way of expressing how they feel so they laugh.

[@bavettesAstartes]

@@blakemcmillan5680 I am normally one to laugh at everything and anything. That is why it surprised me so much when I couldn't imagine myself laughing at the first nuclear bonfire.

[@anteshell]

@@bavettesAstartes It is hard to imagine one's reaction to such shocking event especially with preconception that there is a small chance of it destroying the world. No matter how good you know yourself, I assure you've never faced such shocking moment that you could make a well informed assessment of your reactions beforehand.

[@5roundsrapid263]

The film outlines it perfectly. Oppenheimer himself has a vision of the weapon vaporizing people instantly. Others at Los Alamos are kissing, crying, or even vomiting.

[@seanbuggy2185]

There are few people on KZbin that are as consistently incredible at making content as Kyle is, especially the Half Life series, it’s just phenomenal

[@DaLoveDonkey69420]

I concur so hard.

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

Glorifying destruction is the work of evil 👉 The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 💖

[@kylehill]

​@@VeganSemihCyprus33 You didn't watch the video huh

[@Sniperkitten971]

​@@kylehillwho watches video anyway ? We're here for BLOOD.

[@Torger726]

​@@kylehilldid you take the script from your old because science script? Because I've watched that episode several times and it's all the same words

[@thetruefirelord2248]

The "near zero" quote is both hilarious and chilling at the same time

[@InkedCyclops]

That is the wonder of theoretical science.

[@alexbranton426]

This doesn’t just go for theory though. Even the most verified experiment is, if you’re a good Bayesian, near guaranteed. There is always a chance you wake up having been teleported to mars and die immediately. But I think we’re all confident the chances of that are….

[@seth7745]

Not really when you consider the fact that zero probability is unachievable for anything. Zero risk is impossible.

[@bluebook709]

Just like scientists now say the odds of creating a black hole or turning the planet into a hot gray goo called strange matter are really pretty small, compared to the knowledge we can gain by forever pushing the voltage up at CERN. What good is knowledge going to do you if you are wrong and sooner or later you will be. Considering what is at stake I think we could put a limit on them till they can prove it is safe. The same sort of scientist once said in a college math class that he could prove the odds of winning the lottery were zero. Yet people do clearly win. So, what he is really saying is he can win any argument no matter how absurd using semantics rather than science. Tell the guy that just won a billion bucks in the Megamillions that he had zero chance of winning. Then tell him there is a zero chance you are going to destroy the planet.

[@flipwonderland]

​@@seth7745 well, seth, if the risk happened no one would be around to say I told you so

[@iPig]

The fact that some guys were able to do some math, mess with some rocks, and convert matter into energy exactly as predicted is just astounding. It's the most striking and terrific example of cutting edge theoretical science manifesting in the real world. Can you imagine the feelings they had watching that first test? "Well, I guess physics works how we thought it did!"

[@rael5469]

....and all without computers. Just slide rules and chalk boards.

[@davidaugustofc2574]

​@@rael5469 judging by modern audiences, I'd say computers do little to help one's intelligence. They were doing calculus by hand for decades, so it was second nature to them. But the realisation was really impressive.

[@rael5469]

@@davidaugustofc2574 Maybe YOU were doing calculus by hand.....most people were not. I would say that computers raised the general level of education.....or rather the access to information. Most things can be looked up in seconds now....instead of a whole semester. Just look it up. It's at our fingertips now.

[@keyabrade1861]

@@davidaugustofc2574 It's less about intelligence and more about processing power. It doesn't matter that Oppenheimer was likely one of the most intelligent humans to ever exist even up until today; no amount of human intelligence alone could perform 2-point safety calculations on a nuclear weapon's pit, or imitate computer-generated imagery. Computers don't make people smarter, as you've pointed out, but what they do do is make smart people far more capable.

[@Yourmommasfavorite]

“And also it may have resulted in the worst invention in history… shit!😃”😂

[@thezucclord-3738]

The weight behind those words as Oppenheimer spoke them. He really believed them of himself and knew the others who had worked on the project would agree. To live with the thought that you had a hand in creating a weapon so destructive, so easily world ending in the wrong hands, for the rest of your life. I can't even imagine the depths of what this man went through.

[@dobbi6083]

Did you watch Oppenheimer the movie already ? Here's a short dialog between Oppenheimer and Einstein that still gives me goosebumbs

[@thezucclord-3738]

@@dobbi6083 No I haven't watched the movie but I really want to. I just happen to be able to realize, "holy shit this guy had to live with that for the rest of his life."

[@arareanddifferenttune3130]

@@thezucclord-3738the gravity of that must be immeasurable. And it is forever into the future of humanity too, it doesn’t just end with him or us. While I’m sure someone else would have figured it out, the torment must have been unbearable. Hearing Oppenheimer say “I am become death, destroyer of worlds” while shedding a tear shows he has very much contemplated the implications of this act. I think we have as humans been meddling in things we ought not meddle in, and a lot of it is documented on this channel. Recreating the sequence of smallpox and the Spanish Flu and then publishing them and AI come to mind. This is dark stuff, I hope you manage to stay up and keep truckin’ friend 😊

[@studleyjb3172]

​@@thezucclord-3738if he didn't do it, someone else would have. Someone not so nice.

[@tappajaav]

@@studleyjb3172 Does it really matter how nice the creator of such technology is? They unleash hells on earth, regardless of the intention, inventor or deployer

[@nong333]

Groves: "They're saying there's a chance that when we push that button... we destroy the world." Oppenheimer: "The chances are near zero." Groves: "...Near zero?" Oppenheimer: "What do you want from theory alone?" Groves: "ZERO, would be nice!" Honestly my favorite part of the movie.

[@Michael-kp4bd]

I haven’t finished this video, but I believe the well supported calculations showed that it was a certainty that the atmospheric chain reaction could not happen. I don’t think they truly gave it any percentage chance of happening by the time they had built the Gadget. However, the mere hypothetical, plus the fact that it was the first time actually putting the full weapon to test… it still feels like anything unexpected could happen. But yeah, we then went on to produce nukes literally 2 to 4 *thousand* times as powerful as the Trinity test, so scientists knew the exploding atmosphere situation wasn’t theoretically possible. So I think it’s ahistorical, but made for a good line addressing Teller’s “terrible possibility” consideration.

[@leowic]

I wish they had got just a little into the notion that 0% means unmessurable i.e. it doesn't exist, it's nothing. To be able to sat, almost notion, meanings "We looked into it, and are not concerned"

[@methos1999]

IMHO Matt Damon as General Groves is underappreciated. To me he felt very much like a grounding presence in a film almost lost in Oppenheimer's mind.

[@FontaineLovers]

pressing that button during the cold war will also end the world you know

[@AnonEyeMouse]

​@@Michael-kp4bdwhat is terrifying are all the things they didn't consider, which COULD have been factors. Daughter compounds from contamination of the air, the vaporised shell of the device, the interaction withe the geometry of atmospheric layers and the ground. True, HAD they taken all these factors into account they would have done much more work to find the same result, it was 'safe'. However, the fact they rolled the dice on a bunch of factors that potentially could have pushed the safety factor to near zero should scare the shit out of people.

[@croycamaro]

As much as I love your comedic educational videos, you really have a gift for serious documentaries. This Half-Life History series is phenomenal.

[@anglerfishtanking]

His half life histories Playlist alongside his more serious documentary style content is incredible. The more comedic pop culture science stuff does certainly have value in catching the attention of the younger audience for sure (I personally find it a bit grating with the sound effects and editing at times) and I'm glad that it leads to them delving into this content after that, but this is the sort of content that really shines on his channel.

[@StaticImage]

I could not agree more. When someone who is typically comical in nature takes a serious route, it hits different. You get to see more of that person when they go both ways. Kyle's videos make me chuckle, but the serious toned videos absolutely command all my attention and I feel all the nuance and emotion behind the topic. It's a real gift he has.

[@patricknez7258]

Spot on. His voice is perfect for it too imo

[@derrekvanee4567]

it's true but eh Oppenheimer is just a youtube phenomenon kinda like Barbieheimer *eh not complaining*

[@mattgilbert7347]

I agree. These are not just "KZbin uploads", but proper Documentary Filmmaking, both short and longer forms.

[@scratchthatfnaf]

fun fact: einstein told the president the nazis were making a bomb and his letter initiated the usa to make the bomb and he regretted the letter after seeing the devastation at hiroshima.

[@troliskimosko]

That’s not fun bruh 😭

[@AJPMUSIC_OFFICIAL]

Le bomb... ...kills people?

[@VeriStrawberi]

Those bombs saved many more lives than it took. Sadly it was the best option out of terrible options.

[@GuyNamedSean]

@@captainhoratius8192Yeah, there's a big difference between pointing the gun and pulling the trigger. We all know it's gonna kill someone if you shoot them, but almost everyone has a panic attack their first time actually doing it. We "know" the effect, but there's no way to wrap your head around the guilt you'd experience having had a hand in literally evaporating thousands of people in the middle of their peaceful and mundane morning.

[@buccob]

Yeah, there has been so much more documentation of Nazi atrocities than there is about Japanese atrocities and the Asian Holocaust. The Japanese civilian were victims of the nuclear bombs, but their empire was absolutely not a victim at the time.

[@citizenofcity1722]

I can’t even begin to express how captivating and well done these Half-life Histories are. Please keep up the excellent work.

[@hundkebab2433]

i missed the part where they talked about the invading combines and the gravity gun

[@citizenofcity1722]

@@hundkebab2433 that’s coming up in the next video!

[@infernaldaedra]

​@@citizenofcity1722i thought your mom was the next mature video

[@Stefanius058]

​@@infernaldaedraincel

[@Beryllahawk]

Deeply appreciate this one, because it's never not worth repeating how serious this development was, or reminding how seriously the scientists really were taking it. I recently saw a completely different sort of "biographical" take, in which the writers quite enjoyed making Oppenheimer a touch villainous, including laughing at the Trinity test; and I remembered the exact thing you quoted from him here, that interview, and thinking: "These writers are jerks."

[@scientia.veritas]

What biographical take did you watch?

[@Beryllahawk]

@@scientia.veritas it was an old Nat Geo thing; didn't age well

[@scientia.veritas]

Oh okay. For a moment I got worried you were talking about the Nolan film 😅

[@xpendabull]

The "Destroyer of Worlds" clips has been used so many times, but it is still so haunting. I can't imagine how that weighs on a man's mind.

[@Baseballnfj]

Especially considering he really only morally justified the project to himself to prevent the Germans getting it first. Germany was done by the time of Trinity.

[@saullucey9541]

It is so rare to find someone who can pull off both the humorous edutainment style youtube video, but then also make an amazing video essay like this in a completely different tone, and still nail it.

[@patricksarama4963]

My favorite part of Oppenheimer was when Nick Fury walked up and told Oppenheimer "I'm putting together a team of extrordinary individuals" as Einstien and Niels Bohr walked into frame

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

Glorifying destruction is the work of evil 👉 The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 💖

[@Wyndamn]

PHYSICIST.......... ASSEMBLE !!!!

[@k.s.m.1197]

Super science friends... Assemble 😂

[@TheLordNovo]

They’re called the Super Scientists, or SS for short

[@velocitydaemon]

That would be 1000 times better than whatever the MCU is doing now😆

[@francoislacombe9071]

I am reminded of the Castle Bravo explosion, which was far more powerful than calculated because of unforeseen fusion reactions in the device. There could have been similar unforeseen reactions in the atmosphere that would have ignited it when the gadget was triggered. The fact that they went ahead with the test anyway shows how totally bonker insane Homo Sapiens is as a species.

[@NotSoNormal1987]

Feels like all the other species of the earth should be side eyeing us.

[@bobbyhumphrey199]

Just something else slipping out of pandora's box

[@namename3130]

You must ask yourself if youd rather the nazis started testing

[@spacecatsftw]

@@namename3130 iirc hitler considered nukes a "jewish science" like the absolute fool he was, so...

[@namename3130]

@@spacecatsftw i believe they still had some sort of a program or interest in them

[@azzystyle94]

I can't imagine how nervous everyone was seconds before the first detonation. Not knowing how things would go, doing something that has never been done before, aware that you might just wipe out all life on earth in an instant. Truly scary

[@timspiker]

Clearly we didn't learn with the invention of AI. It's a slower process which could result in a similar end.

[@jafstraycat]

8:40 The chances of being killed by a duck while standing stationary in an otherwise empty field are near zero, but they are never zero.

[@Michael-bn1oi]

This was 0 in real life though. They ran the math and were unconcerned. It was *literally* impossible

[@LordXyntharn]

I saw Oppenheimer yesterday, I was so invested in the movie I was awed into holding my breath during the countdown for the test. If you have a grasp on science, it is definitely worth the time to watch it.

[@tremac569]

I found the movie to be absolutely interesting

[@FlagCutie]

Apparently my brain turned off a bit during the test sequence. The explosion went off without a bang and the artistic part of my brain was like "nice touch making it silent to emphasize the magnitude of the event." Then the science part was like "light travels faster than sound you dumdum!"

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

Glorifying destruction is the work of evil 👉 The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 💖

[@fighteer1]

The anticipation of the shockwave was one of the most suspenseful minutes I’ve spent watching any movie and I KNEW it was coming.

[@Michael-kp4bd]

Yuuup. Took me about 5 seconds and then I knew what was coming. All the while the theater i was in had such egregiously loud & peaking audio that was painful even during dramatic music sequences. I was bracing myself for what felt like an eternity 😅

[@Real28]

Whats incredible is how little mass was actually turned to energy by fission for those first bombs. The damage they caused by such a tiny amount of mass, just astonishing. Even to this day.

[@cloudkitt]

that c-squared term is a real bastard

[@Grizabeebles]

And to think that sci-fi media just throws around the idea of anti-matter based weapons. Photon Torpedos in Star Trek can contain up to 1.5 *kilograms* of antimatter. When combined with an equal amount of matter, 6000x as much matter as would turn into energy as the Little Boy explosion. On the one hand, this is "only" a 64 megaton explosion. On the other, the characteristics of the explosion have the potential to be completely different than the Trinity test. If all the antimatter isn't consumed immediately at the point of ignition, it *will* continue to annihilate with any atoms it comes across as the blast wave propagates outward.

[@StrikeNoir105E]

Watched some videos of the Beirut explosion a few days ago, which is considered the largest non-nuclear explosion ever releasing 1.1 kilotons worth of energy. The fact that it took such a massive amount of physical explosive to create such a relatively "small" blast puts into context how truly amazing a nuclear weapon is, as nukes can release thousands of times more energy in only a fraction of the size and volume that the explosives in Beirut took up.

[@LovethisNation]

Correct, now imagine entire stars blowing up. No wonder they create a black hole in space

[@slowanddeliberate6893]

​@@StrikeNoir105EThe government has 50 megaton fusion bombs.

[@cha0ticneutralbigs]

I’ve always loved this series and the focus you put of the victims, the ending credits always give me a moment to reflect and mourn for those lost and the music is hauntingly beautiful

[@timspiker]

They're not lost, they're just atoms 🙂

[@alistairj4851]

Is it me or does anyone else think Kyle should have his own TV documentary series covering subjects like this? These vods carry as much weight as legendary broadcasters such as Sir David Attenborough.

[@bearcubdaycare]

Knowing I may be flamed for saying this... KZbin has proved to be the better replacement for TV documentaries. Don't get me wrong, there were some awesome TV documentaries. But amidst the staggering amount of mediocrity uploaded to KZbin, some really amazing stuff eventually rises to the top...this channel, Hossenfelder, PBS Space Time, Three Blue One Brown, Mathologer, The History Guy, Tom Scott, Technology Connections, the list is long. More excellent content has become available than on TV, on more topics, from more excellent creators. Which was the promise long ago of the internet, and it seems to have manifested. (I'm not adverse to paid documentary outlets like Wondrium with its enjoyable series on the Celt's, or Nebula or such. I happen to subscribe to both. But the enormous volume and diversity of the more open KZbin has its benefits, not necessarily to the exclusion of the others.) (To be honest, I haven't watched TV or cable in a long time. I'm just vaguely aware that they still exist. I'm basing this on decades past.)

[@BM-jy6cb]

No, because then the bureaucrats, marketers, and arts graduate producers would be all over it and we'd end up with exactly the kind of dumbed-down crap full of padding and "celebrity" presenters taking up most of the budget. Kyle's videos are perfect just as they are, thank you. BTW, David Attenborough has turned into of the wealthy climate alarmist hypocrites. He's made his career, loads of money and life satisfaction flying large production crews all over the world and has now taken to sanctimoniously lecturing the rest of us to cut back on our daily travel or annual holiday across the Channel. I guarantee my lifetime's CO2 footprint is a tiny fraction of his average monthly CO2 footprint. Can't stand him

[@soaphelps]

he would make less and be under all sorts of contracts. doesn't sound good to me.

[@Pluto137]

TV isn't the prestige it once was He does better doing his own thing with KZbin

[@89elmonster]

TV sucks

[@davecgriffith]

12:12 "... and in these numbers they found all the justification they needed to split the atom, and therefore history, in two" Excellent line. And a great video overall. Thanks!

[@stoogey1]

The half life series has become one of my personal all time favorite series on KZbin. Kyle brings entertainment and education together in ways teachers need to model after. Excellent video

[@blankityblankblank2321]

Same

[@UncleManuel]

20 videos. 20 videos about humankind's most dangerous creation. 20 videos with outstanding writing and a hauntingly calm voice. Kyle has created a series that still will have an impact long times into the future. 👍

[@RaccooniusIII]

How much for this bot comment?

[@sourhour3403]

I have multiple times, and I will for many times more, sent videos from this series to people with questions about nuclear energy, accidents and weapons.

[@redacted144]

Most dangerous creation, so far

[@evanpaluch6190]

If there will be a future without Armageddon.

[@countpythagoras]

​@@evanpaluch6190 it's not the most dangerous. Ever since crispr atomic bombs are a crude toy

[@AllArePunished]

"What if air blows up, like all of it?" "lol", said Oppenheimer, "lmao."

[@jamesh2321]

Originally I tuned into HLH because I'm a nuclear advocate (power generation, not necessarily weapons). I stay because I learn something even my jaded and 'experienced' self didn't know, and Kyle's delivery and deep dive research is top notch. Signed, Former Navy 'Nuke' who studied for a job made possible by these guys, and while an advocate, is under no illusion how dangerous it can be if not properly used and respected.

[@Depressed_Nightfury]

Nuke waste here, well said. I agree, we need to go nuclear, and should have a long time ago.

[@AaronScottLawford]

Loving this video, I like that Kyle is revisiting a video he did several years ago

[@kylehill]

Yes, this is an old script, but I wanted to revisit, update, and add more context. Seemed like the perfect time

[@mikefuentes-rodriguez3846]

Ive been waiting for this video from you since i saw the movie opening night. When Teller brought them the math in the movie, immediately thought "i cant wait for Kyle to retouch this idea" Great work, as always! 👏

[@_cyanite]

ogs will know

[@genghisgalahad8465]

​@kylehill awesome to have done so to keep youtube content fresh, invigorated, an expanded and updated edition! Props to elevating the medium. There's fun almost absurd dive-ins and then there also heady weighty topics, and both from your channel! 🎉 kudos to you and your team!

[@kakyoindonut3213]

@@kylehill oppenheimerly perfect timing

[@evank8459]

I love how the movie didn't give us probability numbers or anything to grasp onto more than "not zero" Made it so much more frightening

[@Ryukachoo]

I feel like that sort of cheapen the complex emotion they had They had mathematically proven it to basically not be a possibility at all... But there was this sort of lingering doubt in the back of their minds about if maybe somehow the calculation was wrong, or somehow their measurements were wrong.... It was subtle but always there

[@evank8459]

@@Ryukachoo It did have to reach an average audience. But yeah, they knew theory could only go so far

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

Glorifying destruction is the work of evil 👉 The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 💖

[@bencoomer2000]

While I can appreciate the drama of "not zero", considering how often people take science's "well... not zero" to mean "them scientists are WRONG cuz I watched this KZbin vidyea", we probably really should educate everyone on what scientific speech is about. (ie... their 90% surety is more supported than most others absolute certainty)

[@anteshell]

@@Ryukachoo Not at all. Mathematically any non zero possibility is still possible. It is simple as that. There is nothing you can do to counter mathematics with colloquial dismissive off-hand phrases like "basically" or "practically". Non zero is always more than zero, and as such, a very real possibility. A living proof of that is you having made that one particular comment at this particular time and location in this world and universe a whole. A tiny, infinitely small chance that all the atoms and forces ordered themselves to make it possible, yet here you are watching this and commenting. But what comes to the "cheapen the complex emotion"... I don't think they cheapened it. It is impossible to convey feelings accurately through movies if the audience is vastly different reference group than the people whose feelings are tried to be conveyed. Accurate mathematical proofs and probability chances would have made the vast majority of the audience to dismiss them in confusion or lack of understanding. Everybody understands the dramatism and impact of "non zero chance" to destroy the world, but very few understands (you included as you showed in your comment) that literally ANY non zero chance is still a chance, no matter how small. Thus, I think they made the right choice to use such vague expression. It is much more easy to understand and subsequently empathise with what the scientists were feeling.

[@piperMcGuffin]

I really loved the movie so I'm glad to hear more about this! Also the final line in that movie, the exchange between Einstein and Oppenheimer left me both in awe and paralyzed by fear.

[@dobbi6083]

Same, still gives me goosebumps, that build up to that short dialog in the end

[@VaderTheWhite]

0:49 That's a Gamecube

[@Savi0rVODS]

As much as I love your other videos Kyle, these more somber and serious videos are the ones that really grip me for the entire video. All of the half life series is just phenomenal.

[@rambo191c]

Another solid episode. Less than 5 mins in and im hooked as usual. Thanks Kyle!

[@cp37373]

Lol

[@tremac569]

I approve of this message ‼️

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

Glorifying destruction is the work of evil 👉 The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 💖

​@@VeganSemihCyprus33stop spamming

[@rambo191c]

@ vegan semi…because no meat allowed 😅

[@kennyroberts9687]

This reminds me of the Oxygen Deprivation Weapons of the Homeworld video games. They are honestly just so terrifying and to know that those weapons are basically what these scientists were afraid of accidentally happening is fascinating.

[@iExploder]

Bring Sajuuk to bear!

[@helvis7336]

wait wasn't that in godzilla 1954?

[@kennyroberts9687]

@@helvis7336 It was! As the "Oxygen Destroyer Bomb".

[@crabohato4954]

​@@kennyroberts9687 I mean, the oxygen destroyer did end up making an even worse monster in the heisei era

[@infernaldaedra]

The things that don't exist on KZbin are the things you might dream up in nightmares. L.O.L.

[@FEAR_Actual]

I was fortunate enough to watch Oppenheimer on it's release date and I will say that it never really struck me that they actually had legitimate concerns over igniting the damn atmosphere with Trinity until I watched the movie. Your video only cements the awestruck nature that the detonation in the movie mimics, and how much of a grim tone it actually had on people who literally built the damn thing. Just another phenomenal video essay, Kyle. Keep up the Half-Life History, it is hands down my favorite thing you do on this platform.

[@bitsandpiecesmusic]

Science was always a struggle for me in high school and college. Your channel, and this series, really make it easy for me to understand, while being expertly produced. Thank you so much! Keep up the amazing work!

[@CrimsonTemplar2]

I’m not sure what happened with Nerdist, but I am supremely glad you’ve moved onto this phase of your career. You are a great science educator & a phenomenal documentarian. Good work Kyle. Your half-life histories are incredible.

[@michael2592]

Kyle was the only reason I heard of nerdist

[@monkeking8604]

That's dying channel, almost all new videos are under 100k views

[@CarbonNut]

They didn't give Kyle his due (monetary and credit wise), so he left them. Then, after he left, they had the audacity to repurpose his old "Because Science" videos as new ones.

[@josephschembri4811]

You managed to grip my 7 year old daughter's attention for two reasons. For the science and in her words "he looks like Thor". So good job!

[@Alittlebritofthomas]

It’s great your child loves science I know i enjoy this guy to

[@Mindgoblin5]

He does call himself "Discounted Thor" or something like that

[@misskitty2133]

I love science and found chemistry & physics came easily to me in college. How I wish I’d changed my major and gone on to Cornell like my professor urged me to do. I think I would have been a very enthusiastic scientist! But my 22 year old stupid brain took over; I stayed because I was head-over-heels about an idiot named Peter and couldn’t bear the thought of being so far away from him & breaking up inevitably. As fate would have it, the relationship turned volatile as he descended into alcoholism and I did move away 2 years later. And now I’m 65 and run a non-profit cat shelter. So, vicariously through your incredible videos, I can be a scientist. I love your videos!! They’re well put together, factual but leaving plenty of room for speculation. It’s so much fun! Thank you, Michelle in Boston

[@josephbenson606]

aw! how sweet. I hope, despite your unfortunate turn of events, you still find pleasure in the theory of everything.

[@CommanderNoob]

This re-imagining of your similar video from about 4 years ago is well done, and isn't a duplicate. This is different, more knowledgeable, and other things. This is a good thing to show the world, especially with the release of the Oppenheimer movie. People NEED to know what Science was and still is. People NEED to take Science seriously. People NEED to know Science and the horrific potential of the vast possibilities. Good work, Kyle.

[@antman674]

The biggest "it should be fine" ever.

[@ZaximusRex]

Every time a new reality adjacent sci fi or documentary film lands I know I can always count my favorite science tubers to compress down the interesting bits into a more accurate and digestible form.

[@Sacredsnow2]

Oppenheimer is really worth a watch. Not only is the science part fascinating. (Which they also made fairly digestible for the layman) but the politics surrounding Oppenheimer following the war and the red scare was disheartening and fascinating at the same time. 😂

[@McLarenMercedes]

@@Sacredsnow2 It was an awful witch hunt and later witch trials which ruined both the lives and careers for a lot of people in the 1950's.

[@MelancholicBodhisattva]

The thing that made this movie truly, truly special to me was the conversation between Oppenheimer and Einstein at the end. It didn't really matter that Trinity didn't instantly destroy the world at detonation, because it unleashed two very different sets of chain reactions. One never could ignite the atmosphere, but the other could still cause the extinction of the human race, and short of humanity collectively getting our shit together and completely eradicating every nuke on the planet forever, that sword will always be hanging over our head.

[@dormantlime215]

Einstein famously also regretted the only part he ultimately played in the nuclear bombs, which was writing a letter urging the US government to complete the nuclear program. After the bombs were used in Japan, and learning that the Germans were not in any way as prepared to create a bomb as we were, he said had he known those two things he never would have penned the letter at all.

[@Techno_Idioto]

We have that sword of damocles hanging there still. The rope that holds it frays and snaps as time goes on. Perhaps, if we act now, we can stop it from falling onto our heads. Otherwise, our extinction may come sooner than we think.

[@QBCPerdition]

@@Techno_Idioto That sword will always be there. Even if we destroyed all of the nukes on the planet, the knowledge to recreate one would still exist. I'm as pro-disarmament as anyone, but we'll never put that genie back into the bottle

[@firmak2]

@@QBCPerdition is disarmament good tho? Ukraine is one of the best examples of it not being very good.

[@QBCPerdition]

@@firmak2 by disarmament, I meant nuclear weapons. And also universal. So if no one has nukes, no one can use them, but as I pointed out, even if everyone gets rid of nukes, someone could rebuild one

[@CutieBanana09]

Only you could give this the weight and gravity required of the trinity test. Oppenheimer’s quote at the end nearly made me cry.

[@teshiburu]

For sure! thats such a harrowing video clip right?

[@n1ckr0m34]

My go-to videos for my daily commute. I must have watched each one about 5 times and it is some of the best produced content on KZbin. You delivery them with such gravitas it's captivating. Well done and good luck on your future endeavors!

[@nicholasadams2374]

So glad you included Oppenheimer speaking at the end. Without question the most chilling quote ever uttered in human history. As always, thank you so much for all the years of hard work. Edu-taining all of us with style. Half-Life Histories is my most favorite series. Love the mature tone, and your voice.

[@wesleycolvin7158]

Destroying ourselves seems to be something we are EXTREMELY effective at. I don't know if there are Emmy nominations for KZbin content, but you definitely deserve a nomination for this series.

[@0wl999]

@wesleycolvin7158 Sadly, us humans have learned nothing from beginning till now. Here's hoping it doesn't take much more time to wise up.

[@FeedMeChaos1]

@@0wl999 well that's not true, we've learned so many different and creative ways to off eachother since our time began

[@didncozosksma4466]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@FeedMeChaos1There’s also the weird stuff, like deciding “I know we’re not supposed to be in space, but fuck it.” and then we landed on the Moon, or, making human manure into power cause we made it a *little* too *hot*

[@GodwynDi]

And yet our medicine is also better than at anytime before in history. Earth population is also larger than ever before. We are good at lots of things

[@wesleycolvin7158]

@@GodwynDi And we have more people being born every day than those who die, contributing to human overpopulation. If that continues, we will eventually run out of resources and space for people on the planet, ultimately harming the human population as a whole (and the planet itself).

[@explosivedude8295]

Kyle makes stories about planet tearing bombs and city eradicating disasters in bed time story voice. I'm here for it.

[@Ryukachoo]

Been curious about if this possibility was very quickly dismissed, or still lingered over the team as a legitimate if remote fear Edit; dang nevermind, thats one hell of a safety factor

[@frenchfriedbagel7035]

I haven’t watched the video yet. It’s about the possibility of igniting the entire atmosphere on fire, right? They did a lot of calculations to make sure it wouldn’t happen.

[@cortster12]

Quickly dismissed, I believe. But the possibility made them take it seriously at first.

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

Glorifying destruction is the work of evil 👉 The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 💖

[@jakeaurod]

Some people will never dismiss fear no matter how the calculations turn out.

[@marybdrake1472]

Yeah, that's a wide safety margin.

[@joshuanewey2583]

I'm so grateful there is someone like you on KZbin. Thank you for your hard work.

[@GuruMT88]

Your way of explaining the science and retelling these historical stories is great. Great work!

[@shawnSTNCH]

I love the rest of your videos too, but your Half-Life Histories series is some of the best content on KZbin. Incredible work

[@davidpawson7393]

Growing up a few miles from DC during the 70s and 80s in a neighborhood that had both CIA nuclear engineers, my dad married his ex after my mom passed, and the not one but two different spies that lived between our houses becomes more terrifying the older I get and the more of this series you produce. Of course I was the kid that walked to the window in elementary school while everyone else hid under desks during the weekly tinnitus therapy or permanent hearing lose AKA nuclear bomb drill at 11am Wednesday. Excellent work again although I haven't owned a TV in 25 years and haven't been to a movie in 20.

[@theceruleandolphin2829]

Fantastic production value. We'll take everything you can give man. Excellent work.

[@overturr]

My favorite part of the movie is where Oppenheimer tells Einstein that they indeed did “start a reaction that would burn the world”. Referring to the fact that the entire world will soon be equipped with the same power.

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

In middle school, I was friends with Will Serber, son of Manhattan Project physicist Robert Serber. I met Robert Serber once, picking up his son from a Bar Mitzvah. He was very old, about 40 years older than his wife, and he died only a few years after that. Will told me one of his dad's old stories from hanging out at Los Alamos as a young man. Apparently, while drunk, a bunch of the world's smartest people decided to prove once and for all whether or not the light turns off when you close the refrigerator door. So they removed everything from the fridge and put a Nobel laureate inside. When they let him out, he confirmed that the light did, indeed, go out. I don't know which physicist went into the fridge.

[@TheKazragore]

The irony is not lost on me that I happened to queue up this video just as I launched one of the Fallout games. Keep going, Kyle. Your work is phenomenal.

[@inyn_k]

The best thing I think about this theory is that ignition of Atmosphere is really possible. It's just that it would require a lot more energy and higher percentage of deuterium atoms in the ocean. (I read that somewhere) Now let's say we do ever need to terraform a planet by burning the crust, just like how we theorize about terraforming Mars, then we would only have to detonate a powerful enough nuclear bomb on the right planet to burn the whole planet down. This does feel like a super villain plans though😂

[@5roundsrapid263]

The Genesis Device?

[@WE-te3vp]

It's a blast on a whole another level

[@eroraf8637]

It really isn’t, though. As Kyle said, you would need the equivalent of 1.5 million kg of fissile material reacting with 100% efficiency. That’s basically a sphere of plutonium over 5 meters across, and you’d have to assemble that from many subcritical masses AND ensure that the whole thing goes prompt-critical at basically the same instant. Even if you tried to stack thousands upon thousands of more practically sized nukes together, you would have to detonate them all within microseconds of each other, considering that a mere 1-megaton detonation (57 kg of plutonium) produces a fireball that exceeds 100 meters across in less than a millisecond. It’s just. Not. Possible.

[@Jwm367t]

could be easier or harder on some planets. Not much atmosphere left to burn on Mars!

[@vknl99]

it really isn’t possible lol

[@adamdailey8325]

the speech openheimer made that was and always will be spine chilling

[@Em4gdn1m]

I love all of your videos. But I really respect the way you treat this series with reverence. No joking, no Auria, no nonsense. Though I love it in your other videos, and I think you're f*ing hilarious, I love how you know it's place and time and that you're able to have the two very distinct videos all on the same amazing channel. Keep up all that you do. You are awesome.

[@Platypi007]

Another excellent video documentary in this series, thank you to Kyle and every person who worked on it, keep it up!

[@DaLoveDonkey69420]

I out of boredom did a ton of research on the Manhatten project and I was Blown Away about the possibility about igniting the atmosphere actually I'm pretty sure it was one of Your videos about how they calculated the Safety vs We Dead part. And it came down to temperature I believe (writing this after reading title and now watching)

[@naufalmEZa]

Amazing on what can we learn had it not been forced into the education system

[@penitentman7139]

The capabilities of humanity are both incredible in what we can strive to do and actually achieve, and absolutely disgusting in how we utilities are accomplishments. Thanks for the video, Kyle. You somehow always manage to take a subject that's hard to comprehend, and make it easy to understand in an educational and informative way. Keep up the good work, Science Thor

[@michelhv]

Kyle is both credible and incredible. A quantum leap for public education.

[@thorkillthered6595]

Love the serious tone of this series compared to your normal stuff. These videos are the bomb, I always get excited when the next one drops

[@calebansell806]

I see what you did there. Radiating humour aren't you?

[@ImmortalPolly]

I love the mix of content you put out with the more happy and goofy ways you show how science is incredible and awesome, but also these more serious and somber videos wich shows the "dark side" of science that brings into view what could go wrong when calculations are wrong or just slightly off.

[@thes1lvasurfer928]

I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS VIDEO. I had a feeling you were going to cover it. Great video man 🤙🏽

[@EebstertheGreat]

I love the generosity of taking the other side of that bet. "If the world doesn't end, I give you some cash. If the world does end, um. . . . ."

[@JNaysh]

My scariest miscalculation was thinking I could make it home in time after giving patronage to the local taco bell

[@sophiaaskins6619]

5:33 lmao i cupped my hands for the rest of the video and made the atoms watch with me

[@judet2992]

What? A Half-Life Histories that EASES my existential dread with math? I must be dreaming.

[@Gekayy]

Holy shit Kyle this episode gave me goosebumps. Your work is always above what I expect each time, and I expect nothing less than greatness from you.

[@THEJPIndustry]

For every point kyle raised i was like "so the scientists where unsure and took a huge gamble"? And every time, kyle says "so they calcualted exactly what happens" And every time i am suprisingly shoked. Damm all these horror, scifi, indie, movies and games (especially games) have really thought me too much misstrust for scientist teams wtf

[@Hendrik_F]

It always saddens me when I see people mistrusting scientists because they have the crazy-evil-scientist-trope in mind. Of course we shouldn't trust anyone blindly, and everyone should think for themselves. But I think it is actively harmful when new technologies and insights that could make the world a better place get dismissed by the public, because movies taught us to fear the things we don't understand...

[@THEJPIndustry]

@@Hendrik_F for some reason I completely trust science, and normally scientists, like I know that they have to run around a few million tests before doing anything. So I guess my main mistrust is in scientist's building a bomb xD or I guess any Russian engineer scientist's I guess everything that could be seen as evil scientist's. I guess Hollywood cliches are really hurtful for target groups (poor bomb building scientist's)

[@Kingbimmy]

After seeing Oppenheimer (twice now) and have become obsessed with both the science and the real history of the movie. This channel has become one of my favorites to answer any questions I have, and to learn so much. Thank you so much for these videos! ❤❤❤

[@baozuci3594]

I had always known that Atomics were a hoax, but Bard proved it for me when I asked it why there's no crater in the Trinity nuclear test. It answered with "it's because of the hard-baked New Mexico desert ground. Ridiculous.

[@Ex0or]

Half life history has been my favorite format and really made my year, I've watched every single one since I've stumbled upon them. Keep up the work Kyle, I love being educated by your soothing voice.

[@kunne231]

Dont ever stop with these Kyle, amazing content as always

[@kenji0586]

I used to be incredibly scared of radiation but because of kyles half life stories and his research and vast knowledge and explanations has made me feel alot easier about the subject

[@anjachan]

same. I have respect now. We have to be very careful with radiation. And don´t use it as a weapon ...

[@sleepingbackbone7581]

Another priceless gem from one of the best science educators on the planet. Amazing work, as always...

[@233kosta]

"I don't want to set the world on fire..."

[@theeclipsemaster]

"I just want to start, a flame in your heart"

[@AndyRobust]

I do wonder what they knew at the time about asteroid collisions. The theory about the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs was presented in 1980. Had this been known and verified in 1945, the fear of the atmosphere setting on fire would be revealed to be unfounded - since that collision was hugely more powerful than any nuclear bomb ever constructed.

[@lucasglowacki4683]

I like how the general public is never consulted on these experiments that might end the world. We’re just told after the fact😂👌🏼

[@dormantlime215]

Or even told that said experiments might give them cancer for like 6 generations of their families

[@carlosdgutierrez6570]

Why worry them? If nothing happens you can just say "hey, look what we did!" And chill out. If the worst scenario ever comes to happen, well, there won't be anybody left to say "we told you".

[@Sacredsnow2]

A large portion of the general public refuses to take vaccines. Why would we tell them there’s a .0001% chance of destroying the world. They would just hear destroying the world and go French Revolution on the scientists.

[@bookworm3005]

It's an interesting thought experiment tho, what if after the test, the US hadn't dropped the bombs on Japan and instead went with the land invasion. Millions and millions more dead, and who knows who would have won WW2. If *that's* when we learned it all could have been avoided by using the bombs, think of the uprisings against the US gov that would have caused.

[@josephmother2659]

@@bookworm3005what do you mean “who would have won world war 2”? The war was legitimately over everywhere but Japan and wherever Japan has sent its troops. The entire world fighting one country would have ended almost immediately, obviously with large casualties depending on how much the Japanese wanted to preserve their pride. In my opinion obliterating hundreds of thousands of civilians is the ultimate abandonment on humanity. Whether Truman, Oppenheimer, and anyone else felt like they had to or not, they are complicit in an unforgivable action that exemplifies more than anything else how humans drift more and more towards destroying themselves and anyone who gets in their way

[@urbannoodles888]

The scary thing about this, is if there is ever something that COULD vaporize the atmosphere in the timeframe theorized by these men: it would be carried out without any of our say, and it would have a measly 10 dollars bet on the outcome.

[@williamthomas5215]

The movie was incredible. As someone who is well aware of the story but it is an amazing one

[@danielabernathy6123]

I can’t imagine being the creator of a weapon capable of destroying the world.

[@The1stDukeDroklar]

For the bleeding hearts: Einstein's equations made the bomb an inevitability. It was simply a matter of who would get it first. Saying that we should not have developed it is the same as saying we should've allowed someone else to develop it and wield it.

[@kevinbrooks9074]

How does this work on a Flat Earth?

[@monadolifesaver5613]

Duh! You just go under, of course!

[@kevinbrooks9074]

@@monadolifesaver5613 understood

[@KittyCatMeowMeowTime]

Just like radios it doesn't.

[@TheOfficialFivervex]

These Half Life Videos are so Hauntingly Beautiful

[@isaacandersen1]

1:10 dude this guy looks just like Cillian Murphy

[@ethano3099]

This kind of thorough yet entertaining content is why I’ve recommended you to friends. Keep up the good work man.

[@ILCorvo001]

My absolute favorite series on KZbin. There is nothing I look forward to more on here than a new Half-life Histories episode.... Except maybe a new Styropyro video, so that I know he's still alive.

[@ugoeze7360]

Oppenheimer: The Destroyer of Worlds. Heisenberg: The One Who Knocks. Both could’ve had terrible possibilities.

[@alisaurus4224]

Kyle Hill: The One With the Hair

[@ChucksSEADnDEAD]

Harry S. Truman: "Two cities flattened, and you think that of yourself? No. I am the one who nukes."

[@deathbringer9893]

​@@ChucksSEADnDEADhe also served in ww1

[@eddiehoplight2003]

Most science stuff goes over my head because I'm not smart enough to understand it but I'm still fascinated by it nonetheless

[@IstvanThree]

Great episode! I like how the movie shows us the difference in the scientific, political and military viewpoints. A bold movie in my opinion, but it worked out!

[@evilotis01]

"well, we could set the entire planet on fire, but ... fuck it, YOLO"

[@mr.pavone9719]

A-Bomb: explodes Atmosphere: ignites Oppenheimer: Well...at least we ended the war.

[@OfentseMwaseFilms]

They were scared they would light the atmosphere on fire!

[@justinthrun4627]

This is a brain dead ass comment

[@TechJunky777]

And did it anyway

[@tumage8592]

So thats what Warhammers extermniatus comes from

[@daniellarson3068]

I just finished the Oppenheimer - American Prometheus book. After some reflection, I think the really scary thing is that there were people back then that really wanted to use this terrible weapon and there are people around today with the same attitudes.

[@boboso4978]

Really wanted to? They did... twice... or did we all forget that we dropped the sun on Nagasaki and Hiroshima? I understand the reasoning behind both but I definitely feel there were far better options, and have a slight inkling that somebody somewhere just wanted to see big boom on city for "science." It hurts to think like that but those people exist and that terrifies me...

[@MarxistMogger]

@@boboso4978 I believe the main reason they decided to use it was a show of force to the soviet union and to see how many people they could murder with the bomb. Since you know the US especially during the 20th century hated anything vaguely left wing.

[@daniellarson3068]

@@boboso4978Yes - Just a few years ago there were these people in the news called neocons. They struck me as very warlike. I'm quite sure they looked at using nukes in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now most of the neocons are old and out of government, but I bet they are still some there ready for war and would gladly drop the atomic bombs.

[@InvestmentBankr]

@@boboso4978 congrats, you just arrived at Orwills summary; men can only be highly civilized while other men, inevitably less civilized, are there to guard and feed them.

[@michelsolon2937]

They actually did not want to set the world on fire.

[@kmetz878]

That is certainly an unsettling amount of uncertainty regarding that outcome.