Stuff They Don't Want You To Know CLASSIC: Tatum Salt Dome: Nuclear Explosions on U.S. Soil
Oct 28, 2025
Explore the shadowy history of U.S. nuclear testing beyond Three Mile Island. Discover why the Tatum Salt Dome was chosen as an underground test site, and hear about the shocking consequences of the Salmon detonation in 1964. Unearth the troubling cleanup decisions that led to radioactive waste in local aquifers. The episode highlights lingering contamination concerns and the government’s inadequate responses, raising critical questions about trust and safety in nuclear practices.
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Tatum Tests Calibrated Global Detection
- The Tatum Salt Dome tests were part of Vela Uniform to calibrate sensors for detecting underground nuclear blasts.
- The U.S. deliberately detonated nuclear devices east of the Mississippi to simulate how other nations might hide tests.
Nuclear Power's Dual-Use Dilemma
- Nuclear technology is inherently dual-use: civilian energy infrastructure and weapons share the same processes.
- Enrichment capability differences are mainly a matter of iteration and monitoring, complicating nonproliferation.
Salmon Blast Shook Homes Miles Away
- On October 22, 1964 a 5.3-kiloton device exploded 2,700 feet underground at Tatum and shattered windows miles away.
- Residents reported ground ripples, wells failing, and fish leaping after a blast far stronger than officials had warned.
