Uploaded February 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In the 1960s, America was running "Operation Plowshare": the idea that perhaps nuclear bombs could be used for peace, not war. At least some British scientists had similar ambitions, and it involved setting off a nuclear bomb under Wheeldale, in the North York Moors National Park.
Based on catalogue reference ES 26 in the National Archives, mainly ES 26/2 and 26/4. "Atomic Weapons Research Establishment and Atomic Weapons Establishment: Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Explosions: Files and Reports". Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0: nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3
The Open Government License does not cover personally identifying information, so names and signatures on documents have been blurred.
Operation Plowshare footage from the Prelinger Archives: archive.org/details/Plowshar1961 and archive.org/details/Plowshar1961_2
🟥 MORE FROM TOM: tomscott.com
(you can find contact details and social links there too)
❓ LATERAL, free weekly podcast: lateralcast.com youtube.com/lateralcast
👥 THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES: youtube.com/techdif
In the 1960s, America was running "Operation Plowshare": the idea that perhaps nuclear bombs could be used for peace, not war. At least some British scientists had similar ambitions, and it involved setting off a nuclear bomb under Wheeldale, in the North York Moors National Park.
Based on catalogue reference ES 26 in the National Archives, mainly ES 26/2 and 26/4. "Atomic Weapons Research Establishment and Atomic Weapons Establishment: Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Explosions: Files and Reports". Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0: nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3
The Open Government License does not cover personally identifying information, so names and signatures on documents have been blurred.
Operation Plowshare footage from the Prelinger Archives: archive.org/details/Plowshar1961 and archive.org/details/Plowshar1961_2
🟥 MORE FROM TOM: tomscott.com
(you can find contact details and social links there too)
❓ LATERAL, free weekly podcast: lateralcast.com youtube.com/lateralcast
👥 THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES: youtube.com/techdif
