Seventy years ago, on this day, September 3, 1956, the (Manchester) Guardian reports that there won’t, in fact, be an A-bomb exploded in Antarctica as part of the upcoming International Geophysical Year.
The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was xxxppm. As of 2026, when this post was published, it is 430ppm. This matters because the more carbon dioxide in the air, the more heat gets trapped. The more heat, the more extreme weather events. You can make it more complicated than that if you want, but really, it’s not. Fwiw, I have a tattoo of the Keeling Curve on my left forearm.
The broader context was that this was the 1950s. Anti-nuclear movements weren’t really a thing yet, and “McCarthyism” was keeping opposition quiet. And most people were either Promethean or indifferent? idk.
The specific context was that the International Geophysical Year was about to kick off, and some boffins were getting a little grant-happy/delirious.
What I think we can learn from this
We are insane hairless murder apes, only occasionally restrained by our better angels.
What happened next
Bombs didn’t get used for THIS. Other plans (canals etc) were afoot.
On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays
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References
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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.
What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.
If you want to get involved, let me know.
If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).
Also on this day:
September 4, 1969 – Ivory Tower types tell the truth at ANU
September 4, 1990 – Industry whines about environment minister’s speech
September 4, 2000 – industry says sky will fall if there’s a carbon tax
September 4, 2006 – Royal Society to Exxon: “Knock it off with the funding to #climate deniers”