Atomic Hobo

The Soviets tried to call the Baltic "the sea of peace" but Sweden had a few objections. Especially as any disruptions to the Baltic "peace" seemed to be coming from the Soviets, not the Swedes.

In this episode we look at how Sweden's position on the Baltic, uncomfortably close to the Soviet Union, drew her into the Cold War and nuclear tension even though she was a neutral state.

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Children in care or custody during nuclear war

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We reach the penultimate episode!

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Back in the archives this week. We look at a US civil defence booklet from 1969 about fallout shelters in schools.

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Churchill and Eden head to Bermuda for a conference with Eisenhower.

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Churchill sails across the Atlantic to meet Eisenhower - the new US President. But even though they are allies and friends from the war, there will be no nukes and kisses from Ike.

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Britain gets the bomb! Then gets left behind again...

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Why did Britain choose Australia for its first nuclear test - and why did Australia say yes?

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Thank you!

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Ruth! Work! Up!

In this episode we see the fine reward Ruth gets for rearing her child and guarding her from the ultimate horrors of the world.

A bonus episode has been uploaded to my Patreon page for pod subscribers. It's another one on 1980s nuclear pop music. We look at RUSSIANS by Sting. You can get it here: www.patreon.com/atomichobo

You can get my book ATTACK WARNING RED: HOW BRITAIN PREPARED FOR NUCLEAR WAR HERE: https://linktr.ee/attackwarningred

Or get a signed copy from me directly at www.juliemcdowall.com

Thank you.

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Looking at a Canadian civil defence magazine from the 1960s, called Survival.

Its main purpose was to overcome apathy amongst Canadians about nuclear war and civil defence, and it tried to do this with some humour!

You can find the whole magazine on my Patreon page at www.patreon.com/atomichobo

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In the 1960s, America considered the N.E.A.R. system: a little black box you plug into the wall which acts as a personal air raid alarm.

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It's 1951 and Churchill is back in Downing Street - but is he living in "atomic wonderland"?

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You can make a one-off donation to the podcast here https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/atomichobo

And you can buy my book here https://linktr.ee/attackwarningred

Thank you.

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Clement Attlee's efforts in 1950 to make America promise to consult Britain before launching the nukes.

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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Attack-Warning-Red-Julie-McDowall/dp/1847926215/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1VSGDARI5MZZ2&keywords=attack+warning+red+julie+mcdowall&qid=1693414023&sprefix=%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-1"> Buy my book, ATTACK WARNING RED!, here </a>

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The short video recorded by CNN which would be broadcast if nuclear war started.

You can buy my book, ATTACK WARNING RED here: https://linktr.ee/attackwarningred

And you can support the podcast and get extra episodes at Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/atomichobo?fan_landing=true&view_as=public

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In 1981, Protect and Survive Monthly claimed they had been "attacked" in a BBC lecture. I found the lecture, and analyse it here.

You can find it on YouTube at this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqAocgZUpDo&t=641s

You can buy a copy of my book, ATTACK WARNING RED: HOW BRITAIN PREPARED FOR NUCLEAR WAR here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Attack-Warning-Red-Julie-McDowall/dp/1847926215/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1P6X47W5Y5L0Q&keywords=attack+warning+red+julie+mcdowall&qid=1692017642&sprefix=%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-1

And you can join my Patreon here www.patreon.com/atomichobo

Thank you for listening.

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The arrival in Britain of the B-29s in 1948.

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Britain's decision to build their own atomic bomb.

You can listen to my book on Radio 4 here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/m001p1ky

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Standard life - for all of your life!

Rat-trading, pylon-snapping, dog-barking, umbilical cord-chewing, starving, freezing Threads!

Remember my book, ATTACK WARNING RED, goes out on Radio 4 this week, every day, as Book of the Week. Get in on radio, iPlayer, or on the BBC Sounds app. And if you like it, you can buy it here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Attack-Warning-Red-Julie-McDowall/dp/1847926215/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1YA0PURH07HLA&keywords=attack+warning+red+julie+mcdowall&qid=1690147483&sprefix=%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-1

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The secret plutonium experiments carried out in Cold War America.

You can buy Attack Warning Red: How Britain Prepared for Nuclear War here: https://linktr.ee/attackwarningred

Thank you for listening.

Julie

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The gathering of children's bones in order to track fallout.

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And you can buy my new book here: https://linktr.ee/attackwarningred

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The survivors try to drag and hack dead crops from the ground and, high on the moor, Ruth's baby is born. A moment of hope and joy? Don't be daft!

You can get my new book, ATTACK WARNING RED: HOW BRITIAN PREPARED FOR NUCLEAR WAR here: https://linktr.ee/attackwarningred

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Looking at a 1970 booklet called Civil Defense in the Textile, Apparel and Related Industries.

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Looking at the UK's new emergency alert test.

You can buy my new book, ATTACK WARNING RED: HOW BRITAIN PREPARED FOR NUCLEAR WAR here: https://linktr.ee/attackwarningred

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An extract from my upcoming book's audiobook. This is taken from the book's final chapter, 'Nuclear War at the BBC', and looks at the controversy surrounding The War Game. We go from the glitzy 1967 Oscar ceremony to panicked talk of mass suicides if the film made it to British television.

I hope you enjoy it.

The audiobook is read by me, and can be pre-ordered NOW from all trusted audiobook retailers. It will then be available for full download on publication day, 6th April.

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How balloons have been used in nuclear spying, testing and protesting.

You can now pre-order my book, ATTACK WARNING RED, at this link: https://linktr.ee/attackwarningred

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Another four minutes of Threads!

You can now pre-order my book, ATTACK WARNING RED, at this link: https://linktr.ee/attackwarningred

And you can support the podcast on Patreon and get extra episodes and other rewards here: https://www.patreon.com/atomichobo

Thank you for listening.

Julie

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First in a new series looking at nuclear-themed pop music. This week, Dancing With Tears In My Eyes by Ultravox.

You can now pre-order my book, ATTACK WARNING RED, at this link: https://linktr.ee/attackwarningred

And you can support the podcast on Patreon and get extra episodes and other rewards here: https://www.patreon.com/atomichobo

Thank you for listening.

Julie

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We look into my civil defence archive and find a thin yellow leaflet from the 60s called Civil Defense Training for Business and Industry.

Remember you can now pre-order my book ATTACK WARNING RED: HOW BRITAIN PREPARED FOR NUCLEAR WAR at this link: https://linktr.ee/attackwarningred

And you can join us on Patreon at this link: https://www.patreon.com/atomichobo

Thank you,

Julie

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Radioactive refugees, rats and regret. It's all here in Part 23!

You can now pre-order my book ATTACK WARNING RED: HOW BRITAIN PREPARED FOR NUCLEAR WAR at this link. It's published on 6th April, and is available in hardback, e-book and audiobook: https://linktr.ee/attackwarningred

Thank you,

Julie

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The United States Postal Service and its plans to keep delivering the mail after nuclear war.

Support the pod on Patreon and get extra episodes at www.patreon.com/atomichobo

Or leave a tip via Paypal at www.paypal.me/atomichobo

And you can pre-order my book here https://linktr.ee/attackwarningred

Thank you.

Julie

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"Buggered if I'll be shot by a traffic warden!"

One minute of Threads, devoted to the moment when the iconic traffic warden appears, and tickets our hearts and minds!

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Or leave a tip via Paypal at www.paypal.me/atomichobo

Thank you for listening. Julie

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"Finally, I am sorry, that I failed you, your crew and the country."

Listeners sent me their letters of last resort: what would they write if they were the British PM?

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Leave a tip via Paypal at www.paypal.me/atomichobo

Thank you for listening.

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First in a new series looking at British PMs and the Bomb. We talk decisions, submarines and madness, and whether her letters ever actually got out to sea.

You can support the podcast on Patreon at www.patreon.com/atomichobo

Or you can leave a tip via Paypal at www.paypal.me/atomichobo

Remember to e-mail you own letter of last resort via my website at www.juliemcdowall.com

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Pinching prawn cocktail crisps and boozing in the graveyard. Things are grim in post-nuclear Sheffield!

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Thank you for listening.

Julie

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The final part of our THREADS journey to Sheffield.

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Or leave a tip for the pod at wwww.paypal.me/atomichobo

Thank you for listening!

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Second part of our THREADS visit to Sheffield.

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The first episode from our Threads tour and podcast meet-up in Sheffield.

Please consider joining us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/atomichobo

Thank you for listening.

Julie

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Back into the archives, looking at the instructions for Shelter Managers in Battle Creek, Michigan. Handling frustration, misery and bed-hopping.

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"Shoot the buggers, I don't care!" Desperation down in the town hall bunker.

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We reach the dreaded hospital scene! Amputations, blood on the staircase, tearful nurses, sloshing salt in a bucket...

You can support the pod on Patreon or leave a tip on my Paypal at these links. If you do: THANK YOU.

www.patreon.com/atomichobo

www.paypal.me/atomichobo

Thank you for listening.

Julie

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What happened to Britain's air raid sirens after the Cold War?

Please be warned this episode starts with the sound of a siren!

Thank you for listening. Julie

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Looking at how close Russian and NATO are on the map due to the existence of Kaliningrad, and the vulnerability of the Suwalki Gap which could test NATO's collective defence.

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The origins of Kaliningrad, going back to the First World War and the creation of the Polish Corridor, and taking in train crashes, ghost stations and lost amber.

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Another four minutes of THREADS, touching on nuclear winter and disaster syndrome.

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Thanks for listening.

Julie

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Quick announcement about the podcast and the book.

You can now pre-order my book, ATTACK WARNING RED: HOW BRITAIN PREPARED FOR NUCLEAR WAR, by Julie McDowall.

Here is the Amazon link:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1847926215/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_SVZQW251FATSTHY45NF8

It's also available on all other book shop sites.

Thank you for pre-ordering and for supporting my work.

You can support me on Patreon at www.patreon.com/atomichobo or leave a tip at www.paypal.me/atomichobo

Thank you!

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Interview with Nick Meyer, director of THE DAY AFTER.

Getting fired from the movie, censorship, sponsors fleeing, being pushed to depression and to thoughts of suicide - he tells us about the struggle to make the film.

And what was the reaction in the Pentagon and from Ronald Reagan? Did the White House make any demands?

He also talks about the insults thrown at him after broadcast.

My thanks to Nick Meyer for speaking to me via Zoom.

Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/atomichobo or leave a tip at www.paypal.me/atomichobo

Thanks for listening. Julie

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An interview with Josh Pollack, editor of the Non Proliferation review. I ask him how might NATO react to nuclear use in Ukraine? How long will the nuclear taboo hold? And he offers a reminder that there are nuclear threats beyond the Cold War scenario of Russia v the West.

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No ads and no waffle! Thank you for listening.

Julie

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Examining the next four minutes of THREADS. This week, filthy water, dried blood, tetchy council workers, and following the notorious Protect and Survive aadvice on dealing with a corpse in the house.

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Interview with Pavel Podvig about Russia's nuclear forces.

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Looking back at the Soviet Victory Day celebrations of May 1985.

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The Times journalist tells us about conditions in the Heroiv Pratsi metro station in Kharkiv.

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Thank you.

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Interview with Professor Mark Galeotti on Russia, the war in Ukraine, and the nuclear threat. What might prompt Putin to use nuclear weapons? When did Russia last test their tactical nukes? Can Putin's Generals say no if he issues a nuclear launch order?

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Leave a tip at www.paypal.me/atomichobo

Thank you for listening!

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The bunker beneath the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, and the Soviet industrial civil defence ideas which created it.

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Thank you for listening!

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A new series looking at THE WAR GAME (1966). First episode free to all listeners, and subsequent THE WAR GAME episodes will be for Patrons only. Become a podcast patron at www.patreon.com/atomichobo

Weekly podcast episodes will continue as normal, with FOUR MINUTES OF THE WAR GAME as bonus Patreon content.

Thank you for listening.

Julie

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Another four minutes of THREADS.

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The latest in our in-depth look at THREADS, the greatest nuclear war film.

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The New Look and the doctrine of massive retaliation

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The 1995 Norwegian Rocket Incident, and the danger of launch on warning.

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What are tactical nuclear weapons, and how does their threat differ from the thumping thermonuclear monsters?

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Putin's nuclear alert and the madman theory.

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Round-up of nuclear news from Jan 1982, featuring Kevin Keegan and crossbows.

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More on the story of Tube Alloys and how Britain got the Bomb. This week, when USA went cool and stopped replying to our letters.

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A look at John Anderson and the birth of the Tube Alloys project. #TubeAlloys!

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The beauty contest which took place in Nagasaki in 1946, and what it tells us about public perception of the Bomb.

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A special episode for Christmas about the chilly, smoky misery of nuclear winter. With Dr Steve Arnold of Leeds University, an expert in atmospheric chemistry.

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Reaching the most awful four minutes of the film. Michael? Michael!

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The nuclear news from January 1981, taken from the 'Spotlight' section of that month's Protect and Survive Monthly magazine.

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Looking at the 'Spotlight' news section from nuclear war prep mag, Protect and Survive Monthly. What was happening in Jan 1981?

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Trinitite, the green glassy substance created by the world's first nuclear detonation.

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The bombing of Nagasaki

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The flight of Bockscar from Tinian to its rendezvous point, and then onwards to the primary nuclear target: Kokura. Why did the city escape nuclear destruction that day?

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The series of 'minor' nuclear experiments in Australia known as Vixens. They were small and sub-critical, but threw contamination over the Maralinga test site.

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Another four minutes of the greatest nuclear war film. In this week's segment, the bomb drops. Attack Warning Red!

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What sweet treats lay within Britain's buffer depots?

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The 1971 film 'Sound An Alarm', looking at the work of the UKWMO.

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Another short extract from the book about the health service's plans for nuclear war.

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A short extract from my upcoming book. I explore an ROC Monitoring Post and describe the work of the Corps during the Blitz and the Cold War.

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I spoke to the wonderful Rita May about her memories of THREADS.

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I read two pages from the Civil Defence Corps chapter of my book.

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Cauliflower and Plym: not a cocktail, but two unusual elements of Britain's first atomic test, Operation Hurricane.

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Looking at proposals for jobs for adolescents after nuclear attack.

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The 1982 booklet 'Target North West' evaluated civil defence plans for the NW of England. We look at the chapter on Law and Order.

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I phoned Mick Jackson in LA to discuss THREADS. We also talked about A Guide To Armageddon, and The Day After, plus liquorice and all manner of nuclear horror.

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The classic nuclear war film, minute by horrifying minute.

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What made the Minuteman so special, why did it spook the Soviets, and does it threaten us?

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The 1950 book on surviving an atomic bomb.

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Second part of our look at THIRTEEN DAYS, the film about the Cuban Missile Crisis.

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The Kevin Costner film about the Cuban Missile Crisis

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Scrutinising the nuclear war film, minute by minute.

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Surrey's plans for community patrols and streetwatchers, to keep the peace in their isolated post-nuclear villages.

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The famous "golf balls" on the moor at Fylingdales, and how they would have delivered the four-minute warning

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The Baby Tooth Survey and how it tracked fallout in the US population

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The pairing of atomic bombs with sex.

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What happens when underground tests go wrong? We look at the notorious SEDAN test.

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Craters, fallout fears, and deep gouges in the earth. What is an underground nuclear test?

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