Julius Robert Oppenheimer

Julius Robert Oppenheimer was an American physicist known as the "father of the atomic bomb." He led the Manhattan Project during World War II, which developed the first nuclear weapons. His work focused on nuclear physics, particularly atomic collisions, where atomic nuclei interact, creating immense energy. This process is fundamental to both nuclear fission (splitting heavy atoms) and fusion (combining light atoms), which power bombs and stars alike. Oppenheimer's contributions significantly advanced our understanding of atomic behavior and had profound implications for science, warfare, and global politics. After the war, he became a prominent voice for nuclear ethics and control.