TRAIL Spotlight

Abstract

The United States emerged from World War II with technical knowledge about nuclear power, but very few options to use that power for positive outcomes. One attempt to funnel this knowledge into beneficial use was the Plowshare Program: “Swords Into Plowshares” established by the United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) to study and develop peaceful uses for nuclear explosives in science and industry. Plowshare advocates proposed using nuclear explosions to create craters to be used for excavations for projects such as canals and harbors, and deep underground explosions to be used for mining as well as recovery of oil and gas.