X-Nico

10 unusual facts about J. Robert Oppenheimer


Destroyer of Worlds

The album's title is taken from a famous quote by J. Robert Oppenheimer about the atomic bomb: "I am become death, destroyer of worlds", which was itself quoted from verse 32 of chapter 11 in the Bhagavad Gita.

Holy Sonnets

It is thought that theoretical physicist and Manhattan Project director J. Robert Oppenheimer (1904–1967), regarded as the "father of the Atomic Bomb", named the site of the first nuclear weapon test site "Trinity" after a phrase from Donne's Sonnet XIV.

Influence of Bhagavad Gita

J. Robert Oppenheimer, American physicist and director of the Manhattan Project, learned Sanskrit in 1933 and read the Bhagavad Gita in the original, citing it later as one of the most influential books to shape his philosophy of life.

The book has been highly praised numerous times not only by Indians but also people like Aldous Huxley, Henry David Thoreau, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Carl Jung, Hermann Hesse, and others.

Jaspreet Singh

His play, Speak, Oppenheimer, written for Montreal's Infinite Theatre, involves three physicists, including J. Robert Oppenheimer.

JRO

J. Robert Oppenheimer, an American physicist, known for his work with the Manhattan Project

Kensington, California

During World War II, J. Robert Oppenheimer lived at 10 Kenilworth Court where he held top level meetings of the American Communist Party, while simultaneously working on top secret atomic bomb work, and denying any involvement with such political groups.

Oppy

a nickname for J. Robert Oppenheimer (most often spelled "Oppie"), the Manhattan Project leader

The OMD Singles

The "Enola Gay" mix sampled news broadcasts announcing the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, as well as the J. Robert Oppenheimer quote, "Now I am become death, destroyer of worlds."

The Pacifist

Published near the beginning of the Cold War, "The Pacifist" satirizes the military-industrial complex (although the term would not come into wide use for another five years.) The involvement of civilian scientists in military projects was familiar to the reading public, notably the involvement of J. Robert Oppenheimer's team of nuclear scientists in the Manhattan Project, under the military leadership of General Leslie Groves.


Einstein Wrote Back

Einstein Wrote Back is a memoir by Canadian physicist John Moffat which documents his encounters with various other famous physicists, including Niels Bohr, Albert Einstein, Erwin Schrödinger, Fred Hoyle, Wolfgang Pauli, Paul Dirac, Abdus Salam, and J. Robert Oppenheimer, as well as his work at Imperial College London, Princeton University, CERN, and the University of Toronto.

Frank Oppenheimer

A younger brother of renowned physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, Frank Oppenheimer conducted research on aspects of nuclear physics during the time of the Manhattan Project, and made contributions to uranium enrichment.

John B. McDiarmid

McDiarmid’s other honors and achievements include membership in the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, NJ, 1952–1953 (at same time as Albert Einstein) and 1957–1958, under the directorship of atomic-bomb physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer; and Guggenheim Fellow, 1957–1958.

John Strong Perry Tatlock

His daughter Jean Tatlock was an American psychiatrist, physician, and a member of the Communist Party who became known for her romantic relationship with Manhattan Project scientific leader J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Wendell H. Furry

He made important contributions to the early development of Quantum Field Theory with J. Robert Oppenheimer, Vladimir Fock, and others.