On August 6, 1945, the Atomic Age began when Hiroshima, Japan was devastated by a US atomic bomb. Science.Ars reflects on the 60th anniversary of the event:
It seems an extraordinary feat, looking back. In the midst of a war the likes of which had not been seen, the scientific establishments of the allies were focused on taking theoretical physics and applying the might of an industrial war machine to pioneer new heights in metallurgy, engineering, chemistry, and manufacturing. That it was done in utmost secrecy just adds to the accomplishment. While this is not the place to delve into the rights and wrongs of the dropping of Little Boy, the world would never be the same.
While many other uses for atomic power have been developed since 1945, we still haven't gotten very good at cleaning it up. There's also more news on the H5N1 bird flu strain, which has now spread to Russia, an update on the shuttle flight, and a look at some unusual problems affecting the US Pacific coast ecosystem.
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