National Museum of Nuclear Science & HistoryHistory
History
This section provides an overview of the history of the Manhattan Project, the key organizations involved, the science behind the bomb, and more.
Nuclear Briefcases
During the Cold War, both the United States and the Soviet Union created briefcases that allowed their respective leaders to order a nuclear attack within minutes.
Nuclear Close Calls: Able Archer 83
The election of President Ronald Reagan in 1980 saw the return of heightened Cold War tensions after a period of détente during the previous decade. The zenith of this escalation arguably came in 1983, when a NATO training exercise almost prompted nuclear war.
Nuclear Close Calls: The Cuban Missile Crisis
During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were largely prevented from engaging in direct combat with each other due to the fear of mutually assured destruction (MAD). In 1962, however, the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world perilously close to nuclear war.
Nuclear Close Calls: The Norwegian Rocket Incident
In 1995, Russian officials briefly misinterpreted a Norwegian scientific rocket to be a nuclear attack.
Nuclear Fission
In the 1930s, scientists observed and explained nuclear fission--splitting an atom--for the first time.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is a comprehensive international arms control agreement addressing both horizontal and vertical nuclear proliferation.
Nuclear Power Today
One of the Manhattan Project’s many legacies is the development of peaceful nuclear reactors.
Nuclear Proliferation Today
The unprecedented use of nuclear weapons in World War II served as the starting point for an ongoing era of nuclear proliferation.
Nuclear Reactor Accidents - History and Legacies
Nuclear power is controversial among governments, experts and the public. Three high-profile accidents contribute to public fear surrounding nuclear power.
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