The devastating true scale of nuclear weapons began on July 26, 1945, when the Allies demanded the unconditional surrender of Japan, warning of “prompt and utter destruction“ if compliance failed. Japan ignored this ultimatum. By summer, the Allies’ Manhattan Project had developed two atomic bombs: the uranium-based “Little Boy“ and plutonium-based “Fat Man.“ A top-secret mission saw six B-29 bombers heading to Hiroshima, with the Enola Gay carrying Little Boy. It was released over Hiroshima on August 6, releasing 15 kilotons of TNT, devastating a 1.6 kilometers radius.
Three days later, Bockscar dropped Fat Man on Nagasaki, resulting in a 21-kiloton explosion. These bombings led to 129,000 to 226,000 deaths, prompting Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945, ending World War II and igniting a nuclear arms race, especially between the USA and the Soviet Union.
The US’s most powerful nuclear weapon today is the B83, with a maximum yield of 1.2 megatons of TNT, designed for enhanced safety and varied applications including the “Nuclear Bunker Buster“ project and asteroid impact avoidance strategies.
Castle Bravo, detonated on March 1, 1954, remains the most powerful device tested by the US, yielding 15 megatons. The Soviet Union responded by developing the Tsar Bomba, detonated on October 30, 1961, with a yield of 50 megatons, marking the largest human-made explosion.
The nuclear arms race led to the development of extensive arsenals capable of mutual assured destruction (MAD), a doctrine suggesting that nuclear conflict would result in the annihilation of both attacker and defender, effectively deterring outright nuclear war. These developments have left a lasting impact on global politics and security.
Sources:
U.S. Department of Energy
Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation
Screen Gems Collection, Harry S. Truman Library
:Videos_of_Joseph_Stalin
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
Subscribe to Science Time:
#nukes #sciencetime #nuclearwinter
1 view
16
5
5 days ago 00:05:59 3
Russia Dropped Devastating ODAB -1500 Vacuum Bomb at 120 ATM Pressure
5 days ago 01:10:44 2
Hitler in Colour (4K WW2 Documentary)
5 days ago 00:00:22 1
May 22, 2008: Tornado hits Windsor, Colorado
5 days ago 00:10:08 1
10 Minutes of Most Brutal Finishers in WWE 2K24!
5 days ago 00:03:19 1
Cognitive - Insidious (Official Video)
5 days ago 00:15:17 1
The Devastating True Scale of Nuclear Weapons
5 days ago 00:09:25 1
How to protect your brain from stress | Niki Korteweg | TEDxAmsterdamWomen
5 days ago 00:12:41 1
Lego Mine Flood Disaster - Tsunami Dam Breach Experiment - Wave Machine VS Emerald Mine
5 days ago 00:01:01 24
Aegis Sabre Firebird
6 days ago 00:04:51 1
Dååth - Ascension (Official Video)
6 days ago 00:28:11 1
Will ICC action deepen Israel’s international isolation? | Inside Story
6 days ago 00:17:27 1
Nuclear war scenes compilation — The Day After and Terminator films
6 days ago 00:04:25 1
Devastator - Walpurgisnacht (Official Music Video)
6 days ago 00:04:00 1
John O’Connell, Founder West Cork Distillers - Irish Whisky Connections Series
6 days ago 00:07:51 1
Another Nation Just BANNED George Soros!!!
6 days ago 00:00:35 1
This shrimp has the world’s strongest punch! || Mantis shrimp - Pistol shrimp #mantisshrimppunch
6 days ago 00:20:41 1
Eurovision 2024: Grand Final data board | Every ranking and point
6 days ago 00:13:20 1
7 CEOs Who SECRETLY Poisoned The World For Profit
7 days ago 00:05:31 7
Hellbutcher - The Sword of Wrath (Official Video)
1 week ago 00:10:15 1
Scenes of destruction in Houston, Texas! 124 mph wind storm destroys houses and cars
1 week ago 00:59:28 1
El Beso Del Árbol - Live from Isla La Rosana | Organic Downtempo Ecstatic Dance, Tribal Folktronica
1 week ago 00:14:20 1
Hero Wars Lara Croft Guide | Tomb Raider
1 week ago 00:01:36 1
The 100 - Official Trailer
1 week ago 00:03:19 1
Masaka Kids Africana Dancing Joy Of Togetherness ft 3wash_hip_hop & Karina Palmira