Oppenheimer: Inventor of the Atomic Bomb

Patented: History of Inventions

Robert Oppenheimer was the father of the atomic bomb - a weapon of unprecedented power, which, when dropped on Japan, would end WWII and would change the course of history.

While some perceived the bomb as inhumane and other’s perceived it as necessary to end the war, we did manage to come to the conclusion that a ban on nuclear weapons was necessary due to the unacceptable humanitarian consequences of its use.

Teller had been part of Oppenheimer’s Manhattan Project. But from the early days he had been drawn to the idea of developing a Hydrogen Bomb, and was desperate to make one. He would go on to crack the science of making one and become known as the ‘Father of the Hydrogen Bomb’. Although Oppenheimer was the ‘father of the Atomic Bomb’, he was vehemently opposed to the development of this new weapon.

Who was right about the ethics of the Hydrogen Bomb; Oppenheimer or Teller?

Professor Gregg Herken who specialised in modern American diplomatic History at the University of California joins me to get to the bottom of that question.

Edited by Tomos Delargy, Produced by Alex Carlon & Freddy Chick. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.

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