Unrelated but surprised by how little attention Feynman got in Oppenheimer given how enormous his stature would eventually become. Arguably the best mind on the project.
I spent a fair amount of time during the film playing 'Spot Jack Quaid' in anticipation of Feynman being called out at some point. He is spotted early during the montage when Oppenheimer goes recruiting, and then during various scenes in the background, twice playing bongos (!), but only once is he called by name- Teller calls his name right before the Trinity test for not having goggles or a welding glass to look through, and he notes he is in a truck with a thick windshield that blocks the UV. I smiled so much when that little tidbit happens, as it is a story he prominently tells in his book 'Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman...'
He gives an incredible account of his time there in the lecture (and almost stand-up-comedy act) 'Los Alamos from Below' -
The video flows in a coherent manner with minimal tangents.
Speakers: Bob Wilson, Richard Feynman, Evaluation committee (Tolman, Smyth, Yuri, Oppenheimer),
Summary: The transcript details Richard Feynman's work on the Manhattan Project, specifically his calculations related to uranium processing and bomb development safety. The project starts at Princeton but moves to Los Alamos. Feynman has various experiences settling in at Los Alamos and navigating censorship. He informs Oak Ridge of safety issues with their uranium handling.
Salient points:
- Secret uranium isotope separation project revealed to Feynman. He joins reluctantly.
- Feynman calculates and observes experimental setup.
- Evaluation committee discusses and makes decisions. Feynman surprised by consideration of different viewpoints.
- Project moves to Los Alamos. Feynman sent to Chicago to learn bomb design.
- Feynman shares Chicago knowledge with scientists.
- Scientists move to Los Alamos though not fully ready. Feynman impressed by scenery.
- Feynman has trouble getting own room but manages through trick.
- Feynman involved in Los Alamos town council politics.
- Censorship of mail implemented. Feynman experiences issues with wife's letters.
- Feynman calculates Oak Ridge uranium handling safety. Travels there when wife ill to inform of hazards.
Glossary:
Isotope - atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons
Uranium - radioactive metallic chemical element
The talk was intended to be listened to.
If a person prefers to read or is hearing impaired, I recommend the book 'Surely You're Joking...', as mentioned in my comment, instead as it covers all the same stories and more and in a better written style.
Not an AI transcript of a talk.
And I don't think extended summaries copied/pasted from this AI tool is very appropriate to post in response to suggested links in HN comments. I feel it to be cheap and lacking in tact.
Feynman was involved, but not particularly instrumental in the Manhattan Project. I was glad they included his anecdote about watching through the truck windshield.
Feynman wasn't one of the top guys on the project, he was low-mid level. There's an entertaining lecture somewhere on Youtube where he talked about his time there; most of the time he was buried in computational work and sometimes inspecting chemical plants. He usually wasn't in the rooms where Big Important Decisions were made, which is what this Nolan film spends a lot of time on.
edit: *one of the best minds on the project.