Title: Oppenheimer: The Destroyer of worlds
Introduction:
Goodmorning/afternoon class, today I will be speaking about the mastermind in creating the notorious atomic bomb
during WW2, J. Robert Oppenheimer. As some of you know, the highly anticipated movie Oppenheimer has recently
been released. If you are interested in having some knowledge about what Oppenheimer is, here is a biography of
Oppenheimer. He was an American physicist whose contributions to science and technology were innovative but the
idea of creating such a destructive weapon was terrifying.
Early Life and Education:
He was born on April 22, 1904, in New York City. He grew up in a wealthy family and showed an early interest in science
and literature. He went to Harvard University and later studied physics at the University of Cambridge. His academic
achievements marked the beginning of a successful career in physics.
The Manhattan Project:
During World War II, the United States, along with its allies, was engaged in a race to develop an atomic bomb before
Nazi Germany. The government initiated the top-secret Manhattan Project to achieve this goal. Oppenheimer, known
for his brilliance in theoretical physics, was chosen to lead the scientific team.
Los Alamos and the Atomic Bomb:
Oppenheimer established the Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico, USA, where scientists worked tirelessly to design
and build the first atomic bomb. The laboratory became the center of cutting-edge research. He was amongst some of
the world's greatest scientific minds at that present moment.
The Trinity Test and Hiroshima:
On July 16, 1945, the first successful test of an atomic bomb, code-named "Trinity," took place in the New Mexico
desert. The power of this new weapon was demonstrated, and shortly after, atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima
and Nagasaki in Japan, killing thousands of innocent lives. These devastating attacks led to Japan's surrender, effectively
ending World War II.
Controversy and Legacy:
After the war, Oppenheimer's involvement in the Manhattan Project and his political beliefs was not appreciated. He
was accused of being on the communist’s side, which raised concerns about his loyalty to the United States. Despite his
contributions to the war, Oppenheimer faced a security clearance hearing that revoked his security clearance in 1954.
He continued his scientific work years after the bombing but faced challenges. He wanted to make sure that there was
peace regarding the use of nuclear weapons because he knew that nuclear warfare would end humanity.
Conclusion:
J. Robert Oppenheimer's life was controversial, but it does serve as a reminder that you can easily regret doing
something that will destroy the lives of others. His work during the Manhattan Project definitely resulted in one of the
greatest tragedies of our history.