Stephen Mihm, Columnist

Threats of Nuclear Testing Ignore Its Terrifying History

We don’t need to repeat history. 

Photographer: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images North America

Should the US and Russia resume nuclear testing?

The answer to that question must be a resounding “No.” Yet Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, eager to project strength, have raised fears that they may be moving to revive the dangerous practice. While the significance of testing nuclear weapons dwindled over 60 years ago, the terrifying circumstances that brought that era to a close should remain top of mind, reminding leaders why using nuclear testing to gain a strategic advantage is a terrible idea.