The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the keepers of the "Doomsday Clock," moved it — a measure of the probability of nuclear warfare — forward 30 seconds this year. That means we're the closest we've been to nuclear annihilation since 1991, when it peaked at 17 minutes to midnight.
On the bright side, the world has seen a decrease in the number of nuclear warheads, but that came before President Donald Trump suggested another arms race. So what better time than now to bring you this list of some of the most awesome nuclear explosions we've seen?
The videos come from The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a government-funded research lab that played a role in America's development and testing of nuclear weapons, including a "thermonuclear warhead for missiles that could be launched from highly survivable submarines."
5. Operation Plumbbob
I know that everyone's a fan of color, but the 1957 black-and-white really brings out the elements of destruction here.
4. Operation Plumbbob — Rainier
The government exploded a nuclear bomb underneath a mountain and caused an awesome-looking avalanche. No explosion? No complaints!
3. Operation Upshot — Knothole
Just a picturesque explosion in the middle of the night — beautiful.
2. Operation Hardtack-1 Maple 52194
Looking for the blinding power of a nuclear explosion? The type of "everything goes bright" that truly describes the awe and fear of the early nuclear age? You got it right here.
1. Operation Teapot — Turk 28112
Man, this looks less like a nuclear explosion and more like the fall of the Hindenburg. Watch as the explosion just envelop the ground.
Sit back, relax and enjoy the playlist below while imagining what the end of the world could look like:
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