PHYSICS 🌍

Oppenheimer’s famous phrase, “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds,” is a reference to a verse from the Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita. The verse in question is from Chapter 11, Verse 32, in which the deity Krishna reveals his divine form to the warrior Arjuna. Witnessing the terrifying sight of Krishna’s cosmic form, Arjuna is overwhelmed with awe and fear.

Oppenheimer, who was well-versed in various philosophical and religious texts, including the Bhagavad Gita, reportedly recited this verse upon witnessing the first successful detonation of an atomic bomb during the Trinity test. The quote has since become closely associated with Oppenheimer and his reflections on the destructive power of the atomic bomb.

In the context of Oppenheimer’s statement, he was expressing a profound sense of the magnitude and implications of the scientific achievement he had helped bring to fruition. The immense destruction unleashed by the atomic bomb made Oppenheimer acutely aware of the devastating potential of nuclear weapons. His use of the quote from the Bhagavad Gita reflects his introspection on the consequences of his work and the moral responsibility that came with it.