J. Robert Oppenheimer and the Atomic Age

The Not Old Better Show, Inside Science Interview Series

Welcome to the Not Old Better Show Smithsonian Associates interview series on radio and podcast. I'm your host, Paul Vogelzang and today, we're embarking on a journey back in time to a pivotal moment in history, a moment that continues to shape our world today.

Imagine a world teetering on the brink of monumental change, where the boundaries of science and ethics blur amidst the turmoil of war. This was the world of the 1940s, and at the center of this storm was a figure whose name echoes through history – J. Robert Oppenheimer, immortalized in the Academy Award nominated film of the same name.

In today's special episode, we dive deep into the life and legacy of the man often called the "father of the atomic bomb." With the Smithsonian Associate Allen Pietrobon, a returning guest and audience favorite, we'll peel back the layers of Oppenheimer's story, exploring not just the scientific genius but the man behind the myth. We'll delve into his personal struggles, his triumphs, and the weight of the world-changing weapon he helped create. Smithsonian Associate, Prof Allen Pietrobon, will be presenting at Smithsonian Associates coming up and the title of his presentation is J. Robert Oppenheimer and the Atomic Age, so please check our website for details of his full presentation at Smithsonian Associates, but we have Allen Pietrobon today to give us a glimpse of his upcoming Smithsonian Associates presentation.

Our guest, renowned historian and biographer Smithsonian Associate Allen Pietrobon, joins us to bring this complex figure to life. Together, we'll journey through the hallowed halls of Los Alamos, answering questions with Smithsonian Associate Allen Pietrobon about where secrets of the atomic age were born. We'll confront the moral dilemmas that haunted those who worked on the Manhattan Project, and we'll explore how this era of innovation and fear left an indelible mark on human history.

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