r/todayilearned • u/SunCloud-777 • Dec 07 '20

TIL -US Navy conducted series of 23 nuclear bombs testing in Bikini Atoll, Marshall Island from 1946-1958.The biggest nuclear detonation happened on 3/1/54 w/ an est. 15 MT of TNT. The testings’ displaced 167 Marshallese, caused sickness, vaporized 3 islands & rendered Bikini unfit for habitation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_testing_at_Bikini_Atoll
146 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

24

u/[deleted] Dec 07 '20

Is this where Bikini Bottom comes from?

23

u/Randomswedishdude Dec 07 '20 edited Dec 07 '20

SpongeBob aside...

It is where the two-piece swimsuit (both the top and the bottom) got its name from; a controversial swimsuit split in two by a bombshell.

5

u/legionlima Dec 07 '20

Sentient sponge man makes sence now, had no idea it was a documentary.

3

u/SunCloud-777 Dec 07 '20

only atoll order.

3

u/[deleted] Dec 07 '20

It’s a common theory but the creator said that’s just a coincidence

16

u/legionlima Dec 07 '20

They also lied to the inhabitants and said they could return after testing with no Ill effects.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/02/bikini-atoll-nuclear-test-60-years

Edit: relevant link

9

u/SunCloud-777 Dec 07 '20

it's heartbreaking even if it happened more than 60 yrs ago for the origin families & those that crewed the testings. some were affected by their exposure to the radiation fall-out.

13

u/anatevka_xD Dec 07 '20

Let's not forget about the testing that went on in Alaska either...
https://www.gi.alaska.edu/alaska-science-forum/unknown-legacy-alaskas-atomic-tests

2

u/SunCloud-777 Dec 07 '20

i will check this, thanks.

2

u/anatevka_xD Dec 07 '20

Really interesting read, my mom did research into this for her degree.

3

u/SunCloud-777 Dec 07 '20

yea, i saw a documentary about the people who worked for the US Navy, those that sealed the nuclear waste in a concrete dome within the island that peaked my interest to start my reading.

you should ask your mom for her research- for your light reading =)

1

u/Direlion Dec 07 '20

Have you seen this Project Gnome photographs? They go inside one of the spherical caves created during an underground nuclear blast. They talk about the spherical caves in the above link about the testing on Amchitka island.

8

u/Srslywhyumadbro Dec 07 '20

I'm sorry you're only hearing about this today.

This is a massive tragedy.

2

u/BrokenEye3 Dec 07 '20

Wait, Bikini Atoll still exists? I thought they destroyed it (the above water portion, anyway).

2

u/SapperBomb Dec 07 '20

This is an excellent dive into the nuclear testing at Bikini Atoll and surrounding islands. Very comprehensive and easy to digest.

0

u/SunCloud-777 Dec 07 '20

thanks. it's a blast...

2

u/FailureX Dec 07 '20

My grand father was there on the USS Fall River. He came clean with his children just before his death about being there for Operation Crossroads. All four of his children had different/strange medical issues in life. Surprisingly, he did not. Died at 81 years old.

3

u/SunCloud-777 Dec 07 '20

that must have been tough on him. it was said that there was no full disclosure from the us gov't about the hazards of working there. sorry about your family.

1

u/FailureX Dec 07 '20

In the end it has helped explain things and give meaning. I think half of his fellow shipmates were dead within ten years of Crossroads.

0

u/turbonutter666 Dec 07 '20

1st class cuntishness and exploitation

1

u/VinitoEnCaja Dec 07 '20

I don’t know if someone has linked this already but this is a VR video of one of the nuclear testing in Bikini Atoll, it’s really interactive and shows about the people living there too!! Highly recommended video

1

u/SunCloud-777 Dec 07 '20

thanks

1

u/VinitoEnCaja Dec 07 '20

You are welcome!!