Declassified Nuclear Films Prove We Were Wrong About Their Explosive Power
The U.S. detonated over 200 nuclear weapons to gather scientific data about their potential. That data was gospel for years, until a weapons physicist decades ...
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In July 1945, scientists detonated Trinity, the world’s first nuclear bomb. At the time, no one was sure what was going to happen. But the test was a terrifying success, and it led to an international arms race. The United States conducted over 200 atmospheric weapons tests for two key reasons: grandstanding and fine tuning. They wanted to prove their military might, and make better, more powerful nuclear weapons. So, they tested out new designs in the air, on the ground, and at sea. All of these massive fireballs were captured by strategically placed cameras around a test site, and then analyzed by scientists. The big number they were all after? The yield, or the amount of energy released. These films hold the best scientific data we have of our nuclear potential. That is, until a ...
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In July 1945, scientists detonated Trinity, the world’s first nuclear bomb. At the time, no one was sure what was going to happen. But the test was a terrifying success, and it led to an international arms race. The United States conducted over 200 atmospheric weapons tests for two key reasons: grandstanding and fine tuning. They wanted to prove their military might, and make better, more powerful nuclear weapons. So, they tested out new designs in the air, on the ground, and at sea. All of these massive fireballs were captured by strategically placed cameras around a test site, and then analyzed by scientists. The big number they were all after? The yield, or the amount of energy released. These films hold the best scientific data we have of our nuclear potential. That is, until a ...
