Madman Theory
(wikipedia.org)
The madman theory is a political theory commonly associated with the foreign policy of U.S. president Richard Nixon and his administration, who tried to make the leaders of hostile communist bloc countries think Nixon was irrational and volatile so that they would avoid provoking the U.S. in fear of an unpredictable response.[1]
The madman theory is a political theory commonly associated with the foreign policy of U.S. president Richard Nixon and his administration, who tried to make the leaders of hostile communist bloc countries think Nixon was irrational and volatile so that they would avoid provoking the U.S. in fear of an unpredictable response.[1]
February 22, 1985 Operation Beluga
(todayinhistory.blog)
In 1984, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the “doomsday clock” to three minutes before midnight, noting a turn for the worse in cold war tensions. “U.S.-Soviet relations”, they noted, “reach their iciest point in decades.”
In 1984, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the “doomsday clock” to three minutes before midnight, noting a turn for the worse in cold war tensions. “U.S.-Soviet relations”, they noted, “reach their iciest point in decades.”
Nuclear Proliferation and the "Nth Country Experiment"
(nsarchive.gwu.edu)
Washington, D.C., January 23, 2025 - Today, the National Security Archive publishes newly declassified information on a secret mid-1960s project in which a handful of young physicists at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory produced a design for a “credible nuclear weapon” based only on unclassified, open-source information and in just three years.
Washington, D.C., January 23, 2025 - Today, the National Security Archive publishes newly declassified information on a secret mid-1960s project in which a handful of young physicists at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory produced a design for a “credible nuclear weapon” based only on unclassified, open-source information and in just three years.
The U.S. Government Just Declassified Cold War-Era Docs About DIY Nukes
(gizmodo.com)
The National Security Archive has published recently declassified documents related to the “Nth Country Project,” a Cold War era experiment involving a DIY nuclear weapons project.
The National Security Archive has published recently declassified documents related to the “Nth Country Project,” a Cold War era experiment involving a DIY nuclear weapons project.
A Spy Satellite You've Never Heard of Helped Win the Cold War
(ieee.org)
In the early 1970s, the Cold War had reached a particularly frigid moment, and U.S. military and intelligence officials had a problem.
In the early 1970s, the Cold War had reached a particularly frigid moment, and U.S. military and intelligence officials had a problem.
A Cold War Satellite Program Called Parcae Revolutionized Signals Intelligence
(ieee.org)
In the early 1970s, the Cold War had reached a particularly frigid moment, and U.S. military and intelligence officials had a problem.
In the early 1970s, the Cold War had reached a particularly frigid moment, and U.S. military and intelligence officials had a problem.
Bunkers in Albania
(wikipedia.org)
Concrete military bunkers are a ubiquitous sight in Albania, with an average of 5.7 bunkers for every square kilometer (14.7 per square mile). The bunkers (Albanian: bunkerët) were built during the Hoxhaist government led by the Leader Enver Hoxha from the 1960s to the 1980s, as the government fortified Albania by building more than 750,000 bunkers.[1][2][3]
Concrete military bunkers are a ubiquitous sight in Albania, with an average of 5.7 bunkers for every square kilometer (14.7 per square mile). The bunkers (Albanian: bunkerët) were built during the Hoxhaist government led by the Leader Enver Hoxha from the 1960s to the 1980s, as the government fortified Albania by building more than 750,000 bunkers.[1][2][3]
Greenland and the Coldest War
(palladiummag.com)
Greenland has returned to the global spotlight as President Trump renews his interest in acquiring the northern island during his second term.
Greenland has returned to the global spotlight as President Trump renews his interest in acquiring the northern island during his second term.
How Britain got its first internet connection (2015)
(theconversation.com)
The internet has become the most prevalent communications technology the world has ever seen. Though there are more fixed and mobile telephone connections, even they use internet technology in their core. For all the many uses the internet allows for today, its origins lie in the cold war and the need for a defence communications network that could survive a nuclear strike.
The internet has become the most prevalent communications technology the world has ever seen. Though there are more fixed and mobile telephone connections, even they use internet technology in their core. For all the many uses the internet allows for today, its origins lie in the cold war and the need for a defence communications network that could survive a nuclear strike.
Colossus – The Forbin Project (1970)
(archive.org)
Defense Department computers of both the United States and The Soviet Socialist Republic become sentient.
Defense Department computers of both the United States and The Soviet Socialist Republic become sentient.
Could the Soviet Union have survived?
(historytoday.com)
We ask four historians of the Cold War whether the demise of the USSR was as inevitable as it now seems.
We ask four historians of the Cold War whether the demise of the USSR was as inevitable as it now seems.
W54
(wikipedia.org)
The W54 (also known as the Mark 54 or B54) was a tactical nuclear warhead developed by the United States in the late 1950s.
The W54 (also known as the Mark 54 or B54) was a tactical nuclear warhead developed by the United States in the late 1950s.
Russian UVB-76 radio station broadcasts burst of mysterious messages
(meduza.io)
Russia’s mysterious UVB-76 radio station, known for its constant buzzing and occasional cryptic messages, sent out a near record number of transmissions on December 11.
Russia’s mysterious UVB-76 radio station, known for its constant buzzing and occasional cryptic messages, sent out a near record number of transmissions on December 11.
Atoms for Peace: Learning to Love the Bomb
(historytoday.com)
In 1969, North Yorkshire was unknowingly under siege. The market towns of Pickering and Whitby faced a looming existential threat: a nuclear bomb.
In 1969, North Yorkshire was unknowingly under siege. The market towns of Pickering and Whitby faced a looming existential threat: a nuclear bomb.
The Underground University
(aeon.co)
In 1986, my quiet life as a doctoral student in philosophy was punctuated by a trip to Brno in Czechoslovakia (as it then was), where I found myself in a high-speed, chicken-scattering taxi, chasing a bus before it reached the border. It was my small part in a larger story of philosophers’ derring-do during the Cold War.
In 1986, my quiet life as a doctoral student in philosophy was punctuated by a trip to Brno in Czechoslovakia (as it then was), where I found myself in a high-speed, chicken-scattering taxi, chasing a bus before it reached the border. It was my small part in a larger story of philosophers’ derring-do during the Cold War.
The Army built a giant concrete pyramid in North Dakota and used it for 6 months
(taskandpurpose.com)
Deep in the farmland of North Dakota sits an ominous and massive concrete pyramid, with large circles on all four faces. It wasn’t built by an ancient civilization or aliens; it was built by the U.S. Army, and it played a pivotal part in the Cold War.
Deep in the farmland of North Dakota sits an ominous and massive concrete pyramid, with large circles on all four faces. It wasn’t built by an ancient civilization or aliens; it was built by the U.S. Army, and it played a pivotal part in the Cold War.
Vasily Arkhipov
(wikipedia.org)
Vasily Aleksandrovich Arkhipov (Russian: Василий Александрович Архипов, IPA: [vɐˈsʲilʲɪj ɐlʲɪkˈsandrəvʲɪtɕ arˈxʲipəf], 30 January 1926 – 19 August 1998) was a senior Soviet Naval officer who prevented a Russian submarine from launching a nuclear torpedo against ships of the United States Navy at a crucial moment in the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962.
Vasily Aleksandrovich Arkhipov (Russian: Василий Александрович Архипов, IPA: [vɐˈsʲilʲɪj ɐlʲɪkˈsandrəvʲɪtɕ arˈxʲipəf], 30 January 1926 – 19 August 1998) was a senior Soviet Naval officer who prevented a Russian submarine from launching a nuclear torpedo against ships of the United States Navy at a crucial moment in the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962.
Prelude to McCarthyism: The Making of a Blacklist (2006)
(archives.gov)
The so-called "Attorney General's List of Subversive Organizations" (AGLOSO) was one of the most central and widely publicized aspects of the post–World War II Red Scare, which has popularly become known as "McCarthyism."
The so-called "Attorney General's List of Subversive Organizations" (AGLOSO) was one of the most central and widely publicized aspects of the post–World War II Red Scare, which has popularly become known as "McCarthyism."
An unearthly spectacle – The untold story of the biggest nuclear bomb (2021)
(thebulletin.org)
In the early hours of October 30, 1961, a bomber took off from an airstrip in northern Russia and began its flight through cloudy skies over the frigid Arctic island of Novaya Zemlya. Slung below the plane’s belly was a nuclear bomb the size of a small school bus—the largest and most powerful bomb ever created.
In the early hours of October 30, 1961, a bomber took off from an airstrip in northern Russia and began its flight through cloudy skies over the frigid Arctic island of Novaya Zemlya. Slung below the plane’s belly was a nuclear bomb the size of a small school bus—the largest and most powerful bomb ever created.
US Government memo shows Ethel Rosenberg was not a spy but executed her anyway
(bloomberg.com)
The children of convicted Soviet spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg spent more than half their lives hunting for a smoking gun document that would prove their mother's innocence. They said their quest is now over.
The children of convicted Soviet spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg spent more than half their lives hunting for a smoking gun document that would prove their mother's innocence. They said their quest is now over.
Ethel Rosenberg's sons say FOIA documents clear her name
(bloomberg.com)
The children of convicted Soviet spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg spent more than half their lives hunting for a smoking gun document that would prove their mother's innocence. They said their quest is now over.
The children of convicted Soviet spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg spent more than half their lives hunting for a smoking gun document that would prove their mother's innocence. They said their quest is now over.
The Thing, also known as the Great Seal bug
(wikipedia.org)
The Thing, also known as the Great Seal bug, was one of the first covert listening devices (or "bugs") to use passive techniques to transmit an audio signal.
The Thing, also known as the Great Seal bug, was one of the first covert listening devices (or "bugs") to use passive techniques to transmit an audio signal.
How one engineer beat the ban on home computers in socialist Yugoslavia
(theguardian.com)
Very few Yugoslavians had access to computers in the early 1980s: they were mostly the preserve of large institutions or companies.
Very few Yugoslavians had access to computers in the early 1980s: they were mostly the preserve of large institutions or companies.
Pepsi’s Soviet Navy (2021)
(foreignpolicy.com)
In 1989, PepsiCo Inc., the maker of Pepsi, acquired 17 submarines, a cruiser, a frigate, and a destroyer from the Soviet Union.
In 1989, PepsiCo Inc., the maker of Pepsi, acquired 17 submarines, a cruiser, a frigate, and a destroyer from the Soviet Union.
Spy plane observes how storms produce radioactive clouds and antimatter
(elpais.com)
In 1960, the Soviet Union shot down the plane of U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers as he flew over Yekaterinburg. The pilot was captured alive and sentenced to 10 years in prison, while the wreckage was put on public display. It was known as the U2 incident, named after the spy plane piloted by Powers — an aircraft designed at the CIA’s request to fly at high altitudes and photograph Communist arsenals without detection.
In 1960, the Soviet Union shot down the plane of U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers as he flew over Yekaterinburg. The pilot was captured alive and sentenced to 10 years in prison, while the wreckage was put on public display. It was known as the U2 incident, named after the spy plane piloted by Powers — an aircraft designed at the CIA’s request to fly at high altitudes and photograph Communist arsenals without detection.
Timothy Snyder on How the Collapse of the Soviet Union Took America by Surprise
(lithub.com)
In the language of physics, a bell that hangs on a post on a farm is in equilibrium: the force of gravity pulling it down is matched by the force of the ground pushing back on the structure. Getting a bell in the air so that it can be rung requires some careful work. Not every equilibrium is the same. The Tsar Bell is in an equilibrium in which it cannot be rung.
In the language of physics, a bell that hangs on a post on a farm is in equilibrium: the force of gravity pulling it down is matched by the force of the ground pushing back on the structure. Getting a bell in the air so that it can be rung requires some careful work. Not every equilibrium is the same. The Tsar Bell is in an equilibrium in which it cannot be rung.