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Nuclear testing

Nuclear testing is experimentation with nuclear weapon Nuclear weapon

A nuclear weapon derives its destructive force from nuclear reaction [i]s of fission [i] ... 

s. Throughout the twentieth century, most nations which have developed nuclear weapons have staged tests of them. Testing nuclear weapons can yield information about how the weapons work, as well as how the weapons behave under various conditions and how structures behave when subjected to nuclear explosions. Additionally, nuclear testing has often been used as an indicator of scientific and military strength and many tests have been overtly political in their intention, and most nuclear weapons states List of countries with nuclear weapons

This is a list of countries with nuclear weapons [i]. ... 

 publicly declared their nuclear status by means of a nuclear test.

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Timeline

1945   Nuclear testing: The Trinity Test Trinity test

The "Trinity" test was the first test of a nuclear weapon [i], conducted by the United States [i] ... 

, the first test of an atomic bomb Nuclear weapon

A nuclear weapon derives its destructive force from nuclear reaction [i]s of fission [i] ... 

, using 6 kilograms of plutonium Plutonium

Plutonium is a radioactive [i], metal [i]lic chemical element [i]. ... 

, succeeds in detonating, unleashing an explosion equivalent to that of 19 kilotons of TNT.

1946   Nuclear testing: In the first underwater test of the atomic bomb Nuclear weapon

A nuclear weapon derives its destructive force from nuclear reaction [i]s of fission [i] ... 

, the surplus USS ''Saratoga'' USS Saratoga (CV-3)

The fifth USS Saratoga was the third aircraft carrier [i] of the United States Navy [i]. ... 

 is sunk near Bikini Atoll Bikini Atoll

Bikini Atoll is an uninhabited 6.0-square-kilometer atoll [i] in one of the Micronesia [i]n Islands in t ... 

 in the Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the world's largest body of water [i]. ... 

 when the United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 detonates the "Baker Day" devi

1946   Cold War Cold War

The Cold War was the protracted geopolitical [i], ideological [i], and economic [i] ... 

: India India

India , officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia [i]. ... 

n Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru Jawaharlal Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru , also called Pandit Nehru, was one of the most important leaders of the ... 

 appeals to the United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 and the Soviet Union Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

 to end nuclear testing and to start nuclear disarmament, stating that such an action would "save humanity from the ultimate disaster."

1952   Nuclear testing: Operation Ivy Operation Ivy

Operation Ivy was the eighth series of American nuclear tests [i], coming after Tumbler-Snapper [i] ... 

 - The United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 successfully detonate Detonation

Detonation is a process of supersonic combustion [i] in which a shock wave [i] is propagated forward due ... 

s the first hydrogen bomb Nuclear weapon

A nuclear weapon derives its destructive force from nuclear reaction [i]s of fission [i] ... 

, codenamed "Mike", at Eniwetok Enewetak

Enewetak is an atoll [i] in the Marshall Islands [i] of the central Pacific Ocean [i]. ... 

 Atoll in the Marshall Islands Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands, officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands , is a Micronesian [i] ... 

 in the central Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the world's largest body of water [i]. ... 

, with a yield Nuclear weapon yield

The explosive yield [i] of a nuclear weapon [i] is the amount of energy discharged when the weapon is de ... 

 of 10.4 megatons.

1953   Nuclear testing: At the Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site

The Nevada Test Site is a United States Department of Energy [i] reservation located in Nye County [i], ... 

, the United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 conducts its first and only nuclear artillery Nuclear artillery

A nuclear artillery [i] shell [i] is a limited-yield nuclear weapon [i] delivered by cannon artil ... 

 test.

1954   Nuclear testing: Officials announce that an American hydrogen bomb Nuclear weapon

A nuclear weapon derives its destructive force from nuclear reaction [i]s of fission [i] ... 

 test had been conducted on Bikini Atoll Bikini Atoll

Bikini Atoll is an uninhabited 6.0-square-kilometer atoll [i] in one of the Micronesia [i]n Islands in t ... 

 in the Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the world's largest body of water [i]. ... 

.

1956   Nuclear testing: In the Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the world's largest body of water [i]. ... 

, Bikini Atoll Bikini Atoll

Bikini Atoll is an uninhabited 6.0-square-kilometer atoll [i] in one of the Micronesia [i]n Islands in t ... 

 is nearly obliterated by the first airborne explosion of a hydrogen bomb Nuclear weapon

A nuclear weapon derives its destructive force from nuclear reaction [i]s of fission [i] ... 

.

1960   February 13 — Nuclear testing: France France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

 tests its first atomic bomb Nuclear weapon

A nuclear weapon derives its destructive force from nuclear reaction [i]s of fission [i] ... 

 in the Sahara Sahara

The Sahara is the world's largest hot desert [i], and second largest desert [i] at over 9,000,000 km, a ... 

.

1961   Nuclear testing: The Soviet Union Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

 detonates a 58 megaton yield hydrogen bomb Nuclear weapon

A nuclear weapon derives its destructive force from nuclear reaction [i]s of fission [i] ... 

 known as Tsar Bomba Tsar Bomba

Tsar Bomba is the Western name for the largest, most powerful nuclear weapon [i] ever detonated. ... 

 over Novaya Zemlya Novaya Zemlya

Novaya Zemlya is an archipelago [i] in the Arctic Ocean [i] in the north of Russia [i] and the extreme ... 

. It remains the largest ever (man-made) explosion.

1962   Nuclear testing: The "Small Boy" test shot Little Feller I becomes the last atmospheric test detonation at the Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site

The Nevada Test Site is a United States Department of Energy [i] reservation located in Nye County [i], ... 

.

   More Events >>



Encyclopedia


Nuclear testing is experimentation with nuclear weapon Nuclear weapon

A nuclear weapon derives its destructive force from nuclear reaction [i]s of fission [i] ... 

s. Throughout the twentieth century, most nations which have developed nuclear weapons have staged tests of them. Testing nuclear weapons can yield information about how the weapons work, as well as how the weapons behave under various conditions and how structures behave when subjected to nuclear explosions. Additionally, nuclear testing has often been used as an indicator of scientific and military strength and many tests have been overtly political in their intention, and most nuclear weapons states List of countries with nuclear weapons

This is a list of countries with nuclear weapons [i]. ... 

 publicly declared their nuclear status by means of a nuclear test.

The first atomic test was detonated by the United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 at the Trinity site Trinity test

The "Trinity" test was the first test of a nuclear weapon [i], conducted by the United States [i] ... 

 on July 16, 1945, with a yield approximately equivalent to 20 kilotons. The first hydrogen bomb Nuclear weapon

A nuclear weapon derives its destructive force from nuclear reaction [i]s of fission [i] ... 

, codenamed "Mike Ivy Mike

Ivy Mike was the code name given to the first successful test of a fusion [i] device, det ... 

", was tested at the Enewetak Enewetak

Enewetak is an atoll [i] in the Marshall Islands [i] of the central Pacific Ocean [i]. ... 

 atoll in the Marshall Islands Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands, officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands , is a Micronesian [i] ... 

 on November 1, 1952, also by the United States. The largest nuclear weapon ever tested was the "Tsar Bomba Tsar Bomba

Tsar Bomba is the Western name for the largest, most powerful nuclear weapon [i] ever detonated.... 

" of the Soviet Union Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

 at Novaya Zemlya Novaya Zemlya

Novaya Zemlya is an archipelago [i] in the Arctic Ocean [i] in the north of Russia [i] and the extreme ... 

, with an estimated yield of around 50 megatons.

In 1963, all nuclear and many non-nuclear states signed the Limited Test Ban Treaty Partial Test Ban Treaty

The Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests In The Atmosphere, In Outer Space And Under Water, often abbrevi... 

, pledging to refrain from testing nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, underwater, or in outer space. The treaty permitted underground tests. France continued atmospheric testing until 1974, while China continued up until 1980. The last underground test by the United States was in 1992, the Soviet Union in 1990, the United Kingdom in 1991, and both France and China continued testing up until 1996. After adopting the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty bans all nuclear [i] explosions in all environ ... 

 in 1996, all of these states have pledged to discontinue all nuclear testing. Non-signatories India India

India , officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia [i]. ... 

 and Pakistan Pakistan

[i] located in [[South Asia]... 

 both last tested nuclear weapons in 1998.

Types of nuclear testing

Nuclear weapons tests have been historically broken into categories reflecting in what sort of medium or location the test has been conducted: atmospheric, underwater, and underground.

Atmospheric testing designates explosions which take place in or above the atmosphere Earth's atmosphere

Earth's atmosphere is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth [i] and retained by the Earth's gravity [i]... 

. Generally these have occurred as devices detonated on towers, balloons, barges, islands, or dropped from airplanes. A limited number of high-altitude nuclear explosions High altitude nuclear explosion

High altitude nuclear explosions have historically been nuclear explosions which take place outside the ... 

 have also been conducted, generally fired from rockets. Nuclear explosions which are close enough to the ground to draw dirt and debris into their mushroom cloud Mushroom cloud

A mushroom cloud is a distinctive mushroom [i]-shaped cloud [i] of smoke [i], flame [i], or debris [i] r ... 

 can generate large amounts of nuclear fallout Nuclear fallout

Fallout is the residual radiation hazard from a nuclear explosion [i], so named because it "falls out" o ... 

 due to irradiation of the debris. High-altitude nuclear tests can generate an electromagnetic pulse Electromagnetic pulse

In telecommunication [i]s and war [i]fare, the term electromagnetic pulse has the following meanings:
... 

, and charged particles resulting from the blast can cross hemispheres to create an auroral display.



Underwater testing results from nuclear devices being detonated underwater Underwater explosion

An underwater explosion, also known as an UNDEX, is an explosion [i] beneath the surface of water. ... 

, usually moored to a ship or a barge . Tests of this nature have usually been conducted to evaluate the effects of nuclear weapons against a Navy , or to evaluate potential sea-based nuclear weapons . Underwater tests close to the surface can disperse large amounts of radioactive water and steam, contaminating nearby ships or structures.

Underground testing refers to nuclear tests which are conducted under the surface of the earth, at varying depths. Underground nuclear testing made up the majority of nuclear tests by the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War Cold War

The Cold War was the protracted geopolitical [i], ideological [i], and economic [i]... 

, on account of other forms of nuclear testing being banned by the Limited Test Ban Treaty Partial Test Ban Treaty

The Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests In The Atmosphere, In Outer Space And Under Water, often abbrevi... 

 in 1963. When the explosion is fully contained, underground nuclear testing emits a negligible amount of fallout. Some underground nuclear tests have been able to "vent" to the surface, producing considerable amounts of radioactive debris as a consequence. Underground testing can result in seismic Seismology

Seismology is the scientific study of earthquake [i]s and the movement of waves through the Earth [i]. ... 

 activity depending on the yield Nuclear weapon yield

The explosive yield [i] of a nuclear weapon [i] is the amount of energy discharged when the weapon is de ... 

 of the nuclear device, and generally result in the creation of subsidence crater Subsidence crater

A subsidence crater is a hole or depression [i] left on the surface of an area which has had ... 

s. In 1976, the United States and the USSR agreed to limit the maximum yield of underground tests to 150 kt.

Separately from these designations, nuclear tests are also often categorized by the purpose of the test itself. Tests which are designed to garner information about how the weapons themselves work are weapons related tests, while tests designed to gain information about the effects of the weapons themselves on structures or organisms are known as weapons effects tests. Additional types of nuclear tests are possible as well .

Nuclear-weapons-related testing which purposely results in no yield Nuclear weapon yield

The explosive yield [i] of a nuclear weapon [i] is the amount of energy discharged when the weapon is de ... 

 is known as subcritical testing, referring to the lack of a creation of a critical mass Critical Mass

Critical Mass is a bike ride typically held on the last Friday of every month in cities [i] around ... 

 of fissile material. Additionally, there have been non-nuclear simulations of nuclear tests using conventional explosives .

History


The first nuclear test was conducted by the United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 on July 16, 1945, during the Manhattan Project Manhattan Project

The Manhattan Project refers to the effort to develop the first nuclear weapon [i]s during World War II [i] ... 

, and given the codename "Trinity Trinity test

The "Trinity" test was the first test of a nuclear weapon [i], conducted by the United States [i] ... 

". The test was originally to confirm that the implosion-type nuclear weapon design Nuclear weapon design

Nuclear weapon designs are physical, chemical, and engineering arrangements which allow for the detonati... 

 was feasible, and to give the scientists and military officers an idea of what the actual size and effects of a nuclear explosion Effects of nuclear explosions

A nuclear explosion occurs as a result of the rapid release of energy from an uncontrolled nuclear reaction [i] ... 

 would be before they were used in combat against Japan Japan

is an island country [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

. While the test gave a good approximation of many of the explosion's effects, it did not give an appreciable understanding of nuclear fallout Nuclear fallout

Fallout is the residual radiation hazard from a nuclear explosion [i], so named because it "falls out" o ... 

, which was not well understood by the project scientists until well after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

On the Sunday morning of August 6 [i], 1945 [i] at 8:15AM [i] the United States Army Air Forces [i] dropped th ... 

.

The United States conducted only six nuclear tests before the Soviet Union Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

 developed their first atomic bomb and tested it on August 29, 1949. Neither country had very many nuclear weapons to spare at first, and so testing was relatively limited . However, by the 1950s the United States had established a dedicated test site on its own territory and were also using a site in the Marshall Islands Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands, officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands , is a Micronesian [i] ... 

  for extensive nuclear testing.

The early tests were used primarily to discern the military effects of nuclear weapons and to test new weapon designs. During the 1950s these included new hydrogen bomb designs, which were tested in the Pacific, and also new and improved fission weapon designs. The Soviet Union also began testing on a limited scale, primarily in Kazakhstan Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan, also spelled Kazakstan, , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a country th... 

. During the later phases of the Cold War Cold War

The Cold War was the protracted geopolitical [i], ideological [i], and economic [i]... 

, though, both countries developed accelerated testing programs, testing many hundreds of bombs over the last half of the twentieth century.



Nuclear tests can involve many hazards. A number of these were best illustrated in the U.S. Castle Bravo Castle Bravo

Castle Bravo was the code name given to the first U.S.... 

 test in 1954. The weapon design tested was a new form of hydrogen bomb, and the scientists underestimated how vigorously some of the weapon materials would react. As a result, the explosion — with a yield Nuclear weapon yield

The explosive yield [i] of a nuclear weapon [i] is the amount of energy discharged when the weapon is de ... 

 of 15 Mt — was over twice what was predicted. Aside from this problem, the weapon also generated a large amount of radioactive nuclear fallout Nuclear fallout

Fallout is the residual radiation hazard from a nuclear explosion [i], so named because it "falls out" o ... 

, more than had been anticipated, and a change in the weather pattern caused the fallout to be spread in a direction which had not been cleared ahead of time. The fallout plume spread high levels of radiation for over a hundred miles, contaminating a number of populated islands in nearby atoll formations , as well as a Japanese fishing boat . One member of the boat's crew died from radiation sickness after returning to port, and it was feared that the radioactive fish they had been carrying had made it into the Japanese food supply.



Bravo was the worst U.S. nuclear accident, but many of its component problems — unpredictably large yields, changing weather patterns, unexpected fallout contamination of populations and the food supply — occurred during other atmospheric nuclear weapons tests by other countries as well. Concerns over worldwide fallout rates eventually lead to the Partial Test Ban Treaty Partial Test Ban Treaty

The Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests In The Atmosphere, In Outer Space And Under Water, often abbrevi... 

 in 1963, which limited signatories to only underground testing. Not all atmospheric tests stopped, however, but because the United States and the Soviet Union in particular stopped testing aboveground it cut the number of atmospheric tests down substantially, since around 86% of all nuclear tests were conducted by those two countries. France France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

 continued atmospheric testing until 1974, and People's Republic of China People's Republic of China

The People's Republic of China , is a country [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

 until 1980.

Almost all new nuclear powers have announced their possession of nuclear weapons with a nuclear test. The only acknowledged nuclear power which claims to have never conducted a test was South Africa South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of the Africa [i]n continent [i]. ... 

 , which has since claimed to have dismantled all of its weapons. The state of Israel Israel

Israel , officially the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia [i] on the so ... 

 is widely thought by intelligence agencies to possess a sizeable nuclear arsenal, though it has never tested. Experts disagree on whether states can have reliable nuclear arsenals — especially ones using advanced warhead designs, such as hydrogen bombs and miniaturized weapons — without testing, though all agree that it is very unlikely to develop significant nuclear innovations without testing. One other approach is to use supercomputer Supercomputer

A supercomputer is a computer [i] that leads the world in terms of processing capacity, particularly spe ... 

s to conduct "virtual" testing, but the value of these simulations without actual test result data is thought to be slim.



Some nuclear testing has been for "peaceful" purposes. These so-called peaceful nuclear explosions Peaceful nuclear explosions

Peaceful nuclear explosions are nuclear explosion [i]s conducted for non-military purposes, such as acti ... 

 were used to evaluate whether nuclear explosions could be used for non-military purposes such as digging canals and artificial harbors, or to stimulate oil and gas fields. In most cases the results were too radioactive for use, and the programs proved neither economically sound or politically favorable.

Nuclear testing has also been used for clearly political purposes. The most explicit example of this was the detonation of the largest nuclear bomb ever created, the 50 megaton Tsar Bomba Tsar Bomba

Tsar Bomba is the Western name for the largest, most powerful nuclear weapon [i] ever detonated.... 

 , by the Soviet Union in 1961. This weapon was too large to be practically used against an enemy target, and it is not thought that any were actually manufactured except the one which was detonated in the test. The weapon was used by the USSR as a show of Soviet strength and force, rather than to be developed as an actual weapon or for specifically scientific purposes.

There have been many attempts to limit the number and size of nuclear testing; the most far-reaching was the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty bans all nuclear [i] explosions in all environ ... 

 of 1996, which was not ratified by the United States. The last worldwide nuclear tests were in 1998. Nuclear testing has since become a controversial issue in the United States, with a number of politicians saying that future testing might be necessary to maintain the aging warheads from the Cold War Cold War

The Cold War was the protracted geopolitical [i], ideological [i], and economic [i]... 

. Because nuclear testing is seen as furthering nuclear arms development, many are also opposed to future testing as an acceleration of the arms race.

Nuclear testing by country

The nuclear powers have conducted at least 2,000 nuclear test explosions :

United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

: 1,054 tests by official count , most at Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site

The Nevada Test Site is a United States Department of Energy [i] reservation located in Nye County [i], ... 

 and the Pacific Proving Grounds Pacific Proving Grounds

The Pacific Proving Grounds was the name used to describe a number of sites in the Marshall Islands [i], ... 

 in the Marshall Islands Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands, officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands , is a Micronesian [i] ... 

, with ten other tests taking place at various locations in the United States, including Alaska Alaska

Alaska is a U.S. state [i], located on the northwest tier [i] of North America [i] ... 

, Colorado Colorado

Colorado is a state [i] in the western United States [i].... 

, Mississippi Mississippi

Mississippi is a southern [i] state [i] of the United States [i]. ... 

, and New Mexico New Mexico

New Mexico is a southwestern [i] state in the United States of America [i]. ... 

 .
Soviet Union Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

: 715 tests by official count , most at Semipalatinsk Test Site Semipalatinsk Test Site

The Semipalatinsk Test Site was the primary testing venue for the Soviet Union [i]'s nuclear weapons [i] ... 

 and Novaya Zemlya Novaya Zemlya

Novaya Zemlya is an archipelago [i] in the Arctic Ocean [i] in the north of Russia [i] and the extreme ... 

, and a few more at various sites in Russia Russia

Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country [i] that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia [i] ... 

, Kazakhstan Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan, also spelled Kazakstan, , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a country th... 

, Turkmenistan Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is a country in Central Asia [i]. ... 

, and Ukraine Ukraine

Ukraine is a country [i] in Eastern Europe [i]. ... 

.
France France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

: 210 tests, mostly at Reggane and Ekker in Algeria Algeria

Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria is a country in north Africa [i],... 

, and Fangataufa Fangataufa

Fangataufa is a small, low, narrow, coral [i] atoll [i] in the Tuamotu Archipelago [i]. ... 

 and Moruroa Moruroa

Moruroa is an atoll [i] which forms part of the Tuamoto archipelago in French Polynesia [i] in the south ... 

 in French Polynesia French Polynesia

French Polynesia is a French [i] "overseas collectivity" with the particular designation of "ov... 

.
United Kingdom United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country and sovereign state [i] tha ... 

: 45 tests
China China

China is a cultural region [i] and ancient civilization [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

: 45 tests
India India

India , officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia [i]. ... 

: between 5 and 6 tests, at Pokhran.
Pakistan Pakistan

[i] located in [[South Asia]... 

: between 3 and 6 tests, at Chagai Hills.

Additionally, there may have been at least three alleged/disputed/unacknowledged nuclear explosions . Of these, the only one taken seriously as a possible nuclear test is the Vela Incident Vela Incident

The Vela Incident was the possible detection of a nuclear weapon test [i]. ... 

, a possible detection of a nuclear explosion in the Indian Ocean Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest body of water in the world, covering about 20% of the Earth's wate... 

 in 1979 hypothesized to be a joint Israel Israel

Israel , officially the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia [i] on the so ... 

i/South Africa South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of the Africa [i]n continent [i]. ... 

n test.

From the first nuclear test in 1945 until the latest tests by Pakistan Pakistan

[i] located in [[South Asia]... 

 in 1998, there was never a period of more than 22 months with no nuclear testing. Therefore, the period from June of 1998 to the present has been, by far, the longest period since 1945 with no acknowledged nuclear tests.


See also

  • List of nuclear tests List of nuclear tests

    The following is a list of nuclear test [i] series designations, organized first by country an ... 




  • Effects of nuclear explosions Effects of nuclear explosions

    A nuclear explosion occurs as a result of the rapid release of energy from an uncontrolled nuclear reaction [i] ... 

  • List of military nuclear accidents List of military nuclear accidents

    This article lists notable military accidents involving nuclear material.... 

  • History of nuclear weapons History of nuclear weapons

    The history of nuclear weapons chronicles the development of nuclear weapon [i]s—devices of enormo ... 

  • Nuclear weapons design Nuclear weapon design

    Nuclear weapon designs are physical, chemical, and engineering arrangements which allow for the detonati... 

  • Live fire exercise Live fire exercise

    A live fire exercise is any exercise [i] in which a realistic scenario for the use of specific equipment ... 

  • High altitude nuclear explosion High altitude nuclear explosion

    High altitude nuclear explosions have historically been nuclear explosions which take place outside the ... 

  • Partial Test Ban Treaty Partial Test Ban Treaty

    The Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests In The Atmosphere, In Outer Space And Under Water, often abbrevi... 

  • Underwater explosion Underwater explosion

    An underwater explosion, also known as an UNDEX, is an explosion [i] beneath the surface of water. ... 



References

;History

External links

  • lists 2,199 explosions by date, country, location, yield etc.
  • at Nuclear Files.org