Popular Science | The Sand That (almost) Killed Millions @popularscience | Uploaded July 2024 | Updated October 2024, 1 day ago.
As the Cold War raged in the wake of humanity's increasing understanding of nuclear science -- and history's very first use of an atomic bomb -- both the United States and Russia started the search for a kinder, gentler form of nuclear warfare. It was a combination of traditional, familiar weaponry with emerging scientific capabilities, and it's how we got "Death Sand."
Radiological weaponry came straight from the pages of early 20th century science fiction, with visionaries like HG Wells and Robert Heinlein both being frighteningly accurate about our future. But despite their warnings, the prospect of harnessing less-lethal versions of "The Bomb" tantalized militaries struggling to keep up in the post-World War II global climate.
The strange science of Death Sand is a fascinating chapter in the epic story of our species' oldest question: How do we deal with violence?
#coldwar #History #Nuclear #radiation
As the Cold War raged in the wake of humanity's increasing understanding of nuclear science -- and history's very first use of an atomic bomb -- both the United States and Russia started the search for a kinder, gentler form of nuclear warfare. It was a combination of traditional, familiar weaponry with emerging scientific capabilities, and it's how we got "Death Sand."
Radiological weaponry came straight from the pages of early 20th century science fiction, with visionaries like HG Wells and Robert Heinlein both being frighteningly accurate about our future. But despite their warnings, the prospect of harnessing less-lethal versions of "The Bomb" tantalized militaries struggling to keep up in the post-World War II global climate.
The strange science of Death Sand is a fascinating chapter in the epic story of our species' oldest question: How do we deal with violence?
#coldwar #History #Nuclear #radiation
