Flakes: Bikini Atoll, Olympics, Selfies, and Bearcam

Seventy years ago, the U.S. military detonated two nuclear weapons on Bikini Atoll. The U.S. was still working through the aftereffects of World War II and recognized Russia as the next great threat. The most publicized "secret" tests ever included reporters and even a 26 minute "propaganda" film by the U.S. government (see first link below).

One blast was in mid-air and the other just under the surface of the water. Things did not go exactly as planned as one bomb missed its target and the other resulted in a spray of radioactive water that contaminated the target ships to the point inspectors could not get close enough to assess damage.

More than 20 blasts followed those over the next…