Bytes: Nuclear Weapons & You

For today’s generation of young learners with no memory of the Cold War, the Russia-Ukraine War and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s saber-rattling have added yet another issue to a long list of global problems to worry about — nuclear weapons. Though these weapons are worrisome, there is (thankfully) a nearly 70-year history of nuclear nonuse to help guide us as we manage their risks.

While some lessons may be more applicable than others for today’s nuclear era, a look back at the development of the first atomic bombs, the global and local impact of nuclear weapons, and the ways scientists, policymakers, and citizens have struggled to make sense of these destructive weapons can help learners begin to think thoughtfully about the unthinkable.