The explosion captured in these two photos is the Nutmeg nuclear test conducted on Eneman Island, part of the Marshall Islands chain, in the South Pacific between Hawaii and the Philippines. The first shows the bomb just after detonation surrounded by what is known as a Wilson Cloud, moisture condensed out of humid air by shock waves. The second photo shows the explosion about fifteen seconds later, with the obscuring moisture burned off. These images were taken from a collection of movies declassified by the U.S. and released by the National Laboratory in March. Everyone seems much more worried about nuclear weapons of late. Well, guess what? It was never a good idea to stop worrying. News outlets always say global warming is the greatest threat to human existence. It isn’t. These are. And they will be as long as they exist. The images date from today, 1958
1954—First Church of Scientology Established
The first Scientology church, based on the writings of science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard, is established in Los Angeles, California. Since then, the city has become home to the largest concentration of Scientologists in the world, and its ranks include high-profile adherents such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta.