The Global Story Is the world entering a new age of nuclear testing?
Nov 17, 2025
Serhii Plokhy, a Harvard historian and expert on nuclear history, delves into the implications of potential nuclear testing by the U.S. With discussions sparked by recent comments from the Trump administration, he explores the historical ramp-up of testing post-WWII, the fallout from events like Castle Bravo, and the cultural impact of the Lucky Dragon incident. He highlights the risks of returning to testing, especially amidst rising global tensions, while cautioning against breaking long-standing testing taboos and the potential for escalation in international relations.
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Testing Was Technical And Political
- Nuclear testing served both technical validation and political signaling during the Cold War.
- Tests proved weapon performance and warned adversaries, creating a balance of terror that deterred direct conflict.
Castle Bravo And The Lucky Dragon
- The Castle Bravo hydrogen test in 1954 produced a 15-megaton blast that caused severe fallout across nearby atolls.
- The contaminated Japanese fishing vessel Lucky Dragon and its crew became an international scandal that exposed testing dangers.
Children's Teeth Revealed Fallout
- US scientists collected children's baby teeth in the late 1950s to measure radioactive strontium-90 exposure.
- The tooth studies showed rising contamination and helped mobilize public concern and policy action.
