Nuclear Weapons

Nuclear weapons are explosive devices capable of releasing large amounts of energy in the form of radiation, which are created by splitting or merging the nuclei of atoms. Nuclear weapons are among the most powerful weapons ever created and are capable of inflicting massive destruction. They have been used twice in modern history, in 1945 during the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, and their use and the potential for their use continues to be a major threat and source of tension in international affairs, with many countries developing and stockpiling them. The consequences of nuclear weapons go beyond the immediate physical destruction, as the environmental effects can persist for years.