The first atomic bomb was detonated on this day in 1945 [Trinity]. The second detonation of an atomic bomb took place over Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945.
So far, Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the only examples of a nuclear device being used in war. We've managed to avoid dropping atomic bombs on each other for 67 years. If you think about it, that's a pretty remarkable achievement.
Consider my previous comment as a reflection about human nature.
In (nearly)ideal world (or as I want to call it "normal world") we wouldn't even consider building and using such a weapon. It would be obvious that this is bad idea.
But we are living in this world which is far from being ideal and I am really happy that we achieved not using nuclear weapon.
And considering everything people did to each other I agree that this is remarkable achievement.
The scary part is that we've been on the brink a number of times. We should also be thanking our lucky stars, or Providence, or something, this might be characterized more as fortunate, than fortitude.
The latest issue of Science has an article analyzing speech patterns of Kennedy and his advisors and concluding that the Cuban Missile Crisis was an even closer call than we thought. Is is indeed a remarkable achievement that we haven't blown ourselves up.
Actually, IMHO, the existence of nuclear weapons and the MAD standoff between the US and the former Soviet Union was responsible for the fact that WW 3 never took place. Had nuclear weapons never been invented, I have little doubt that the US and the former Soviet Union would have slipped into a third world war. In fact, the two sides studiously avoided a direct confrontation, aside from the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, because of the dangers of a nuclear exchange.
As Albert Einstein once was quoted as saying, "I do not know how the Third World War will be fought, but I can tell you what they will use in the Fourth — rocks!"
If you think about it, that's a pretty remarkable achievement.
ReplyDeleteI think that it's sad that we are calling this an achievement.
Why? Would you have preferred a nuclear holocaust?
DeleteNo.
DeleteConsider my previous comment as a reflection about human nature.
In (nearly)ideal world (or as I want to call it "normal world") we wouldn't even consider building and using such a weapon. It would be obvious that this is bad idea.
But we are living in this world which is far from being ideal and I am really happy that we achieved not using nuclear weapon.
And considering everything people did to each other I agree that this is remarkable achievement.
The scary part is that we've been on the brink a number of times. We should also be thanking our lucky stars, or Providence, or something, this might be characterized more as fortunate, than fortitude.
ReplyDeletewww.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/military/nuclear-false-alarms.html
The latest issue of Science has an article analyzing speech patterns of Kennedy and his advisors and concluding that the Cuban Missile Crisis was an even closer call than we thought. Is is indeed a remarkable achievement that we haven't blown ourselves up.
ReplyDeleteActually, IMHO, the existence of nuclear weapons and the MAD standoff between the US and the former Soviet Union was responsible for the fact that WW 3 never took place. Had nuclear weapons never been invented, I have little doubt that the US and the former Soviet Union would have slipped into a third world war. In fact, the two sides studiously avoided a direct confrontation, aside from the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, because of the dangers of a nuclear exchange.
ReplyDeleteAs Albert Einstein once was quoted as saying, "I do not know how the Third World War will be fought, but I can tell you what they will use in the Fourth — rocks!"