The first nuclear weapon used in warfare (Hiroshima, 1945)
A new study explores defending Earth from large near-Earth asteroids. It analyzes a crater-based nuclear detonation approach, noting timing is critical and early warning is essential. Researchers say this method could be the most effective for very large rocks with short warning times, though it requires complex missions.
A series of historical accounts recount the first use of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, underscoring lasting global fears, arms races, and the human cost reflected in witness testimonies and later reflections.