Since the time of Trinity -- the first
nuclear explosion in 1945 -- nearly 2,000 nuclear tests have been
performed, with the majority taking place during the 1960s and 1970s.
When the technology was new, tests were frequent and often spectacular,
and led to the development of newer, more deadly weapons. But starting
in the 1990s, there have been efforts to limit the future testing of
nuclear weapons, including a U.S. moratorium and a U.N. comprehensive
test ban treaty. As a result, testing has slowed -- though not halted --
and there are questions about the future. Who will take over for those
experienced engineers who are now near retirement, and should we act as
stewards with our enormous stockpiles of nuclear weapons? Gathered here
are images from the first 30 years of nuclear testing. See also "Can We Unlearn the Bomb?" and "Atomic Weapons on Film." [36 photos]
