OPPENHEIMER: PART 2

Note: This story is based on Project Manhattan. It’s dedicated to Robert Oppenheimer, the father of atomic science. It’s a sequel to Oppenheimer: Part 1.

I am afraid that the answer to that question is yes. In 1789, a German scientist Martin Henrich Klaubroth discovered uranium, cerium, and zirconium. But the person who discovered it didn’t know that there is no such thing as uranium. This is the truth that can destroy the world.

Even though it was discovered in 1789, it took hundreds of years to discover it. What are the problems that can occur due to the destruction of uranium? Curie was one of the pioneers. In 1934, Curie was the pioneer of the discovery of uranium. Even today, if we look at the materials used by Curie, it is said that there is uranium in them. This discovery took place in 1934.

In 1939, Einstein wrote a letter to Roosevelt. Two or three scientists from Hungary Why did those three scientists ask Albert Einstein to write such a letter to Roosevelt? What will they get from writing such a letter? If this is a twist, these two parts of Oppenheimer will be interesting.

We are doing a lot of research using electrons and protons. There is one more thing. What can we do with neutrons? We can do research using neutron rays. This is a small idea about Enrico Fermi. After the 1930s, when the Jews were leaving Germany, Fermi was one of those people. We saw in the last part that he went to Italy and settled in America. Fermi was a close associate of the scientists from Hungary. When he decided to create a chain reaction using neutron rays, it was two or three weeks before the war.

“Fermi, stop your research. Don’t do any more research. We are not going to give you this money anymore. We are going to give you weapons and ammunition. So, your research is closed.” This was a message from Hitler. Fermi and many other scientists were disappointed.

“We worked so hard to find this out. Even if we had given you a month, Hitler would have told you the truth.” But when we told them to close the research, the scientists who found this out were really disappointed. Many attacks against Jews took place.

Fermi is not a Jew. He is not a Jew like Albert Einstein. But his wife is a Jew. Because his wife is a Jew, he is afraid of being threatened, so he comes to Italy. The scientists from Hungary, a group called Albert Einstein, came to Ellis Island.

All of them said, “If we spend more money on this discovery, our name will definitely be remembered. We should tell this discovery to America.” But the Hungarian scientists couldn’t do anything. They couldn’t get a name or fame. They stopped their discovery halfway.

Albert Einstein said, “This is the most important proof that E is equal to mc square,” and he said okay to it.

“Let’s write this as a letter to Roosevelt.” This letter was written in August 1939. It goes directly to Roosevelt. We said that there would be a committee for uranium in October. Before that, the CIA of America submits a report to Roosevelt.

“A weapon can be created. Many scientists were working here to create it. Suddenly, they went abroad. Some scientists have come to your country. Hold them tight.” This word created a huge spark between Roosevelt and Truman.

Did Truman know about this? Did he know that they were going to make a weapon? No. Roosevelt played a great game here. What letter did Truman get? He got a letter from Albert Einstein. He made Truman believe that this letter was priceless. Not only that, he said that it should be a secret. Not even a small idea should go out. Not even a word should go out. Roosevelt thought so.

After that, the committee was formed. Many studies were done. The S1 team was formed. We saw it at the end of Part 1. Now, it is 1941–1942.

It has been two years since the letter was received. The committee for the weapon was formed. Two years have passed. After two years, it was known that this was the isotope of uranium. We can do all this with uranium-235. We have to enrich it and destroy it. These were the decisions. To destroy it, there were many organizations. In Chicago, in many places, this research was being done.

Fermi has also come. He said, “I will help you.” When all the leaders are together, we have to do this alone. We have to do it secretly. We have to do it in the city of Los Alamos. This was the decision.

A city has to be formed in New Mexico. Los Alamos is not on their mind. Everyone involved in this research should be in one place. No one should come to that place. It should be a military base. This was the decision. If you ask, this project should be given to a soldier. Yes. To form this city, it should be given to an American army. The director of this project is Leslie Groves.

Leslie Groves is the one who calls Oppenheimer. Because all the people in Mantle said, “It would be good if Oppenheimer was in charge of this project.” Likewise, Leslie Groves calls Oppenheimer and goes to New Mexico. In that desert, where can we run? How many people will come? He calculates. When he calculates, how many scientists are needed? How many people are needed? 4,000 to 5,000 people. When Leslie Groves said so, Oppenheimer said, “It’s not possible. More than 10,000 people are needed for this. A lot of documents have to be done, and a lot of scientists have to work to bring out many truths. A lot of research has to be done. So, a place where they can stay is needed.”

Leslie Groves shows a place. There are a lot of cliffs. Like a cliff. Leslie Groves says, “This is the right place. Each cliff has a mountain peak, in that mountain peak to protect you. On the cliff, you can do your job.” But Oppenheimer does not like this.

According to Oppenheimer, he will definitely do what he has in mind. Do you know his theory? He does not know everything. But he will study whatever he is taught. Even if he gives a small hint, he will analyze it in detail. If there is an experienced person, he will know everything by asking them. Hence, he said, “I will take care of this, and in experimental physics, I need an experienced person in experimental physics. Because he will teach everything in experimental physics.” This is the mentality of Oppenheimer.

“If there is a flood, the entire project will be closed.” Oppenheimer doesn’t want this place. Gross has touched this place with his ego.

“I am a soldier. I am the chief. You are talking against me.”

Oppenheimer replied, “You can be the chief. So I should decide. You can do anything. But you have to find a place here.” Oppenheimer looks for a place near Los Alamos School.

The place near the school is good. Soldiers can come and visit this place and find a place near Los Alamos School.

Soldiers were happy that scientists said this place However, army men said, “There’s no way to come to this place. Enough water resources are not available.” When they said so, Oppenheimer said, “Create everything. Creating a city is my duty. Creating a base for that city is the duty of the American Army.” The total budget for this project is 29,000 crores. During that time, it will be 2 billion American dollars. Today is 24 billion.

They spent this much money. While Oppenheimer saw it through a futuristic approach

“I need this place, and that place will be correct.” With no choice left, the American army reluctantly agreed. While working on the job, Oppenheimer started the process of recruitment to select the people for this project.

However, Oppenheimer never handled such a big team in his career. He doesn’t have that experience. The next thing on his mind is how to handle the team. He decides to keep a library, laundry, hotel, and restaurant. There must be a place where people can stay, along with some entertainment and hospitals to take care of children. Like this, a city should be formed.

Even though it happened in 1941–42, the project will take three to four years to complete. Since no one knows about atomic bombs, They don’t know what will happen if it blast and its side effects. They blindly believed Oppenheimer’s mind and created Los Alamos City.

The Army soldiers said, “You are a scientist. You are not in the Indian Army. So join in the army.” With no way left, Oppenheimer joined the army and ordered the scientists to join. They were given army uniforms. People will think that it’s an Army project. No one will have a single doubt.

The Army gave a uniform to Robert Oppenheimer and conducted a physical test. It failed.

“What to do? You are just 58 kilos. We can’t take you into the army.” Not only weight, but there are so many problems in his body. At times, he smokes cigarettes. After that, he became a chain smoker.

He failed an Army test. Even then, he was given army recognition with two badges. One is blue, and another is red. A red chip is bad. While Blue Chip is good, The maximum number of people in Los Alamos is 8000. Among those, less than 100 scientists know what they do.

What are they going to do? The end product, None knows about it. Small, small works were given. All these things were done in secret. Not a single piece of information was passed outside. Less than 10 scientists knew what they were going to do. Oppenheimer moved everything secretly.

Those children younger than six can walk freely. But more than six-year-old children should have their ID card while going out and coming in. This restriction was imposed. Even for sending out, an ID card is necessary. The parents were so happy.

Roads were formed, and water tanks were kept in many places. They created a big city with so many houses. In all these houses, those people who come to Los Alamos will have arguments and fights with their families. At one point in time, humans were confused.

Oppenheimer asks them to confuse even more.

“Hey. We found out that big rocket.” He will ask the scientists to speak.

In between the city and humans, he will say, “Hey. They are creating two rockets only. Like this, they will create rumors to divert people.

Scientists are the main people in Los Alamos. While the Army is there to protect the place, For taking notes, scientists have a library. It’s the main thing for their knowledge. This job is given to a girl who lives in Manhattan. Oppenheimer selects her as the librarian in charge of the library.

Oppositions came against him for doing so. But he says, “She is the right person. It’s not because of love. But she is needed for this role.”

“If a librarian or an experienced librarian is called, they know how to arrange the catalog and how to take material from the catalog. They easily know it. However, if a spy comes, he will easily collect the details and escape. I don’t want such people. I want a person whom we can trust and say that there’s a secret project in this place.” Oppenheimer recruits that woman, and her name is Charles Serber.

When Serber came, there wasn't a library in that place. Since she said the library was needed, books were brought. However, there was another problem. Soviet Union people and Russian agents were waiting to know what the scientists were doing. Hence, they wanted to know what kind of books were coming here.

A number of people were involved in this spy work. At that time, an order is passed. Books were brought from various places to PO Box 1663, New York. All the books were coming. Serber is collecting it. It’s a new job for her. Yet she gives her 100%.

When it was coming, a black box came co-incidentally. In that, there’s an important document related to atomic weapons. Serber thinks about how to protect it. Since the library has not opened yet, She is taught and trained for the job of protection.

After the library was formed, there were lots of problems within it. Since lots of scientists will come there with so much confusion and read lots of books, they will keep the book as it is. Fearing that someone might spy, they closed those books and checked who had all opened them. The names will be noted. There were lots of jobs like this for Serber.

She does this for 75 hours. Mostly women were there in the library during the weapon production. Serber is a communist supporter, just like Oppenheimer. Since then, the FBI has started to observe them. While observing, there were a few pages in the library, and there was important information related to the FBI. The sergeant was arrested for investigation.

Oppenheimer opposed that and said, “Investigating her and investigating me is the same, sir.” During 1943–44, Serber was given the duty of being in charge by taking a big risk. Oppenheimer comes to a decision. To find out the atomic weapon.

After finding this weapon, one cannot throw it easily in a country. The testing process should be done. For testing that, a place was chosen in New Mexico by the American army near Alamogordo. This place was chosen by Oppenheimer, and the project name is Trinity.

No one heard about Trinity. When asked by Oppenheimer, he said, “I read it in some song. Let trinity be there.”

With that trinity, they are going to test an atomic weapon to check whether it’s functioning properly. Instead of trinity, they use the word Christy Gadget. So many people go there. And Serber is not allowed to enter the place due to the lack of sanity. Slowly, the night became noon.

"I became death, the destroyer of worlds.” The slogan from the Bhagavad Gita comes to mind for Oppenheimer.

He said it so many times: “I remember a line from Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita. Now I am becoming death, the destroyer of worlds.”

Oppenheimer indirectly meant that “he doesn’t know his invention is going to destroy this world.” After the trinity, lots of complicated research was done. But it was a good history.

Until the trinity test, Oppenheimer said, “America will not use this weapon for destruction.” By believing their words, Oppenheimer created this weapon by taking so many risks.

What are we all thinking? After World War I, America only came for the Second World War. Before the Second World War came, they decided to prepare atomic weapons. The country was determined to prepare this weapon, and all those processes have been started.

The atomic bomb was thrown on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Upon knowing this, Oppenheimer is heartbroken. He breaks down.

“What did Nagasaki do? So many people are dying there. For this only, you bought my invention, ah?” Oppenheimer questioned America and started to hate them to the core.

“We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed. A few people cried. Most people were silent.” To come out of his frustration, Oppenheimer starts to kill himself through chain smoking.

At one point in time, when America wished to create a hydrogen bomb, Oppenheimer said, “It’s much bigger than an atomic bomb.” He said not to create it.

“So are you in favour of the Soviet Union?” Oppenheimer was arrested by the American government, which investigated him. All the rewards and awards are plucked from him. Even then, he said, “I became a reason for this world’s destruction. I can’t come out of it.” The rest of his life was like hell.