Alex Wellerstein
@wellerstein.bsky.social
Nuclear historian. Professor at Stevens Institute of Technology. Visiting researcher at Nuclear Knowledges program, Sciences Po (Paris). Author of THE MOST AWFUL RESPONSIBILITY (2025). Creator of NUKEMAP. Blogging at https://doomsdaymachines.net.
Pinned
‘The Most Awful Responsibility’ Review: Truman and the Nuclear Option
Harry Truman knew little about the plans to use atomic weapons when he took office. By that time there was little he could do but decide where to drop the first bomb.
www.wsj.com
"Wellerstein presents his story in clear, direct prose, ... 'The Most Awful Responsibility' is a well-written opus unpacking Truman’s—and America’s—complicated relationship with nuclear weapons." www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
Taught about the "decision to use the atomic bomb" a bit today, and the thing the students were audibly the most surprised by was Nagasaki being written in, by hand, on the penultimate draft of the strike order, after Kyoto had been definitely removed from the list for the final time.
February 11, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Taught about the "decision to use the atomic bomb" a bit today, and the thing the students were audibly the most surprised by was Nagasaki being written in, by hand, on the penultimate draft of the strike order, after Kyoto had been definitely removed from the list for the final time.
I do love the diagram genre of classified concepts explained with bad Word clipart. This is illustrating (vaguely) how they change the codes on US nuclear weapons without any one person having the knowledges necessary to set them off while doing so.
February 10, 2026 at 11:50 PM
I do love the diagram genre of classified concepts explained with bad Word clipart. This is illustrating (vaguely) how they change the codes on US nuclear weapons without any one person having the knowledges necessary to set them off while doing so.
I just filled out an internal grad admissions recommendation letter for my university, and they required me to put in the current date (I mean, why at all?) and for the year field it is a drop-down box with years listed between 2000 (wow) and 2046 (wow), and I had to fish out 2026 from that. REALLY.
February 10, 2026 at 5:56 PM
I just filled out an internal grad admissions recommendation letter for my university, and they required me to put in the current date (I mean, why at all?) and for the year field it is a drop-down box with years listed between 2000 (wow) and 2046 (wow), and I had to fish out 2026 from that. REALLY.
Reposted by Alex Wellerstein
ICYMI, as I re-read the historiography of the atomic bombings & WWII for #DissertationWriting
… @wellerstein.bsky.social’s “The Most Awful Responsibility” is an excellent book and I strongly recommend it (in part as a correction to our nationalist nuclear mythmaking).
I cite it several times.
… @wellerstein.bsky.social’s “The Most Awful Responsibility” is an excellent book and I strongly recommend it (in part as a correction to our nationalist nuclear mythmaking).
I cite it several times.
I have finished reading @wellerstein.bsky.social’s new book which makes NEW ARGUMENTS about Truman & nuclear decision making.
I am a demanding reader (& scholar).
alexwellerstein.com/writing/book...
This = excellent book:
-well written & engaging
-sourced
-accessible
-mostly convincing*
I am a demanding reader (& scholar).
alexwellerstein.com/writing/book...
This = excellent book:
-well written & engaging
-sourced
-accessible
-mostly convincing*
The Most Awful Responsibility – Alex Wellerstein
alexwellerstein.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:30 PM
ICYMI, as I re-read the historiography of the atomic bombings & WWII for #DissertationWriting
… @wellerstein.bsky.social’s “The Most Awful Responsibility” is an excellent book and I strongly recommend it (in part as a correction to our nationalist nuclear mythmaking).
I cite it several times.
… @wellerstein.bsky.social’s “The Most Awful Responsibility” is an excellent book and I strongly recommend it (in part as a correction to our nationalist nuclear mythmaking).
I cite it several times.
As part of an effort to hold myself externally accountable for making upgrades to the NUKEMAP, and also to make "visible" some of the work I've been doing on it over the last few years, I wrote up an ambitious plan for what I intend to do for the site in 2026: blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/2026/02/10/n...
NUKEMAP roadmap
I've been working on upgrades to the NUKEMAP for several years now, but I actually would like to get them implemented this year. I figured that one way to...
blog.nuclearsecrecy.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:25 PM
As part of an effort to hold myself externally accountable for making upgrades to the NUKEMAP, and also to make "visible" some of the work I've been doing on it over the last few years, I wrote up an ambitious plan for what I intend to do for the site in 2026: blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/2026/02/10/n...
Rolled out a few bug fixes and stylesheet issues with NUKEMAP today. Also added a new function for my "heavy users" — the ability to quickly export/import detonation sets in CSV format. If you are the kind of person who would find this useful... I hope you do!
February 9, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Rolled out a few bug fixes and stylesheet issues with NUKEMAP today. Also added a new function for my "heavy users" — the ability to quickly export/import detonation sets in CSV format. If you are the kind of person who would find this useful... I hope you do!
☑️ Verify that you are Human, All Too Human
February 9, 2026 at 7:49 PM
☑️ Verify that you are Human, All Too Human
"Truth is on the march and nothing will stop it. He who suffers for truth and justice becomes august and sacred. ...There is no justice but in truth; there is no happiness but in justice." – Émile Zola
February 8, 2026 at 6:52 PM
"Truth is on the march and nothing will stop it. He who suffers for truth and justice becomes august and sacred. ...There is no justice but in truth; there is no happiness but in justice." – Émile Zola
Reposted by Alex Wellerstein
My view has started to become that the Internet has sort of bifurcated, so that you have the whole universe of constant soulless branding and "content" churn, but there are lots of places where insight, art, and community are still valued.
February 8, 2026 at 3:38 PM
My view has started to become that the Internet has sort of bifurcated, so that you have the whole universe of constant soulless branding and "content" churn, but there are lots of places where insight, art, and community are still valued.
This is how you deliver a show-stopper military presentation in early 1954, apparently... black lights and luminous paint!
!["As Lt. [name redacted], Director of Operations, opened the briefing, all lights were turned off except the black lights which were focussed on the first briefing chart. All briefing charts had been prepared with luminous paint and as this transition from brilliance to that of darkness took place, and the chart assumed a bright glow, there was a murmur of great satisfaction from the entire audience. The general briefing was conducted first, then the specialized briefings followed, covering all phases of the first mission."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:d6lghffuwlinx22c2rtfbdwv/bafkreiev5fyjbg34hskvlznwbtyyfusu746mkd5e247g22mykw6mizmezm@jpeg)
February 7, 2026 at 5:41 PM
This is how you deliver a show-stopper military presentation in early 1954, apparently... black lights and luminous paint!
Reposted by Alex Wellerstein
Ahoy @wellerstein.bsky.social, my excellent county librarian has lent me this. Looking forward to learning from your work. I have a particular interest in Gen. Marshall so happy to note a number of refs to him in the index. Will check back in a few days.
February 7, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Ahoy @wellerstein.bsky.social, my excellent county librarian has lent me this. Looking forward to learning from your work. I have a particular interest in Gen. Marshall so happy to note a number of refs to him in the index. Will check back in a few days.
Reposted by Alex Wellerstein
I've been on the road this week, and so ended up behind on my posting for DOOMSDAY MACHINES, but I figured it was worth writing up a little something on this, er, PROVOCATIVE vision of the implications of thermonuclear war from 1954... doomsdaymachines.net/p/bananas-fo...
Bananas for BRAVO
An early attempt to visualize the broader implications of thermonuclear war
doomsdaymachines.net
February 6, 2026 at 7:39 PM
I've been on the road this week, and so ended up behind on my posting for DOOMSDAY MACHINES, but I figured it was worth writing up a little something on this, er, PROVOCATIVE vision of the implications of thermonuclear war from 1954... doomsdaymachines.net/p/bananas-fo...
I've been on the road this week, and so ended up behind on my posting for DOOMSDAY MACHINES, but I figured it was worth writing up a little something on this, er, PROVOCATIVE vision of the implications of thermonuclear war from 1954... doomsdaymachines.net/p/bananas-fo...
Bananas for BRAVO
An early attempt to visualize the broader implications of thermonuclear war
doomsdaymachines.net
February 6, 2026 at 7:39 PM
I've been on the road this week, and so ended up behind on my posting for DOOMSDAY MACHINES, but I figured it was worth writing up a little something on this, er, PROVOCATIVE vision of the implications of thermonuclear war from 1954... doomsdaymachines.net/p/bananas-fo...
Saw this on Reddit — two copies of the same e-mail in the Epstein release, one of which has the word "don't" redacted, the other not. Possible implication is that someone was just doing redaction by word search ("Don T").
Incompetent redaction at a minimum...
Incompetent redaction at a minimum...
February 5, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Saw this on Reddit — two copies of the same e-mail in the Epstein release, one of which has the word "don't" redacted, the other not. Possible implication is that someone was just doing redaction by word search ("Don T").
Incompetent redaction at a minimum...
Incompetent redaction at a minimum...
So apparently in the 1950s there was a serious proposal to take a bunch of Air Force personnel to a nuclear reactor, trigger alarms and tell the pilots they had received a fatal radiation dose, and then see how they behaved...
...this is IRB nightmare fuel!
...this is IRB nightmare fuel!
February 3, 2026 at 2:28 PM
So apparently in the 1950s there was a serious proposal to take a bunch of Air Force personnel to a nuclear reactor, trigger alarms and tell the pilots they had received a fatal radiation dose, and then see how they behaved...
...this is IRB nightmare fuel!
...this is IRB nightmare fuel!
So this is a very early (1954) attempt to illustrate what the fallout implications of high-yield nuclear weapons are for war — basically just putting the Castle BRAVO fallout pattern over possible US targets...
...and I can't stop thinking about how ridiculously, hilariously phallic they all look.
...and I can't stop thinking about how ridiculously, hilariously phallic they all look.
February 2, 2026 at 9:31 PM
So this is a very early (1954) attempt to illustrate what the fallout implications of high-yield nuclear weapons are for war — basically just putting the Castle BRAVO fallout pattern over possible US targets...
...and I can't stop thinking about how ridiculously, hilariously phallic they all look.
...and I can't stop thinking about how ridiculously, hilariously phallic they all look.
"The Case of the Dungeon Descent" is a very pleasant way to pass a half hour or so. Scratched my "Return of the Obra Dinn"-shaped itch...!
Just submitted our #LDJam entry! The Case of the Dungeon Descent was inspired by investigation games like Her Story, The Roottrees are Dead, and Type Help. #indiedev
jamwitch.itch.io/the-case-of-...
jamwitch.itch.io/the-case-of-...
The Case of the Dungeon Descent by jamwitch, Celia, Rose
Scry to investigate the princess's fate
jamwitch.itch.io
January 31, 2026 at 6:39 PM
"The Case of the Dungeon Descent" is a very pleasant way to pass a half hour or so. Scratched my "Return of the Obra Dinn"-shaped itch...!
Reposted by Alex Wellerstein
An excellent book and far from the “50 year old white guy reads WWII History trap”
@wellerstein.bsky.social makes a strong & engaging argument for his claims about what Truman did, or didn’t know & how or shaped him & his nuclear decision making.
@wellerstein.bsky.social makes a strong & engaging argument for his claims about what Truman did, or didn’t know & how or shaped him & his nuclear decision making.
My next train read, The Most Awful Responsibility by @wellerstein.bsky.social is decidedly less light or goofy. I’ve just now realized I fell into the “50 year old white guy reads WW II history” trap but I don’t think it’s the typical Tom Clancy-esque history that most guys my age gravitate towards
January 30, 2026 at 3:04 PM
An excellent book and far from the “50 year old white guy reads WWII History trap”
@wellerstein.bsky.social makes a strong & engaging argument for his claims about what Truman did, or didn’t know & how or shaped him & his nuclear decision making.
@wellerstein.bsky.social makes a strong & engaging argument for his claims about what Truman did, or didn’t know & how or shaped him & his nuclear decision making.
Reposted by Alex Wellerstein
Would you be a good leader of a communal fallout shelter in the event of World War III? Fortunately the US Department of Defense created a self-assessment quiz in the 1970s so that you can "rate yourself as a potential shelter leader"… doomsdaymachines.net/p/take-me-to...
"Take me to your shelter, leader!"
Do you have what it takes to be a shelter manager after World War III breaks out? Take this quiz from 1973 and find out!
doomsdaymachines.net
January 29, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Would you be a good leader of a communal fallout shelter in the event of World War III? Fortunately the US Department of Defense created a self-assessment quiz in the 1970s so that you can "rate yourself as a potential shelter leader"… doomsdaymachines.net/p/take-me-to...
I get very annoyed by the literally daily "let me help you sell your book!" AI spam I get. It's predatory and lazy and sycophantic slop.
BUT, this one is pretty funny: it proposes that they will help me to create a "unified 'Wellerstein Nuclear Hub,'" that will turn NUKEMAP users into book buyers.
BUT, this one is pretty funny: it proposes that they will help me to create a "unified 'Wellerstein Nuclear Hub,'" that will turn NUKEMAP users into book buyers.
January 29, 2026 at 7:11 PM
I get very annoyed by the literally daily "let me help you sell your book!" AI spam I get. It's predatory and lazy and sycophantic slop.
BUT, this one is pretty funny: it proposes that they will help me to create a "unified 'Wellerstein Nuclear Hub,'" that will turn NUKEMAP users into book buyers.
BUT, this one is pretty funny: it proposes that they will help me to create a "unified 'Wellerstein Nuclear Hub,'" that will turn NUKEMAP users into book buyers.
Would you be a good leader of a communal fallout shelter in the event of World War III? Fortunately the US Department of Defense created a self-assessment quiz in the 1970s so that you can "rate yourself as a potential shelter leader"… doomsdaymachines.net/p/take-me-to...
"Take me to your shelter, leader!"
Do you have what it takes to be a shelter manager after World War III breaks out? Take this quiz from 1973 and find out!
doomsdaymachines.net
January 29, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Would you be a good leader of a communal fallout shelter in the event of World War III? Fortunately the US Department of Defense created a self-assessment quiz in the 1970s so that you can "rate yourself as a potential shelter leader"… doomsdaymachines.net/p/take-me-to...
The "Board of Peace" logo is almost a perfect embodiment of the aesthetics of Trump II: bland, ugly, excessive use of gold, and, to top it off, obvious AI slop. Really sums up the lack of authenticity, the lack of interest, and the grift. Someone spent 10 minutes on this and called it a day's work.
January 29, 2026 at 11:02 AM
The "Board of Peace" logo is almost a perfect embodiment of the aesthetics of Trump II: bland, ugly, excessive use of gold, and, to top it off, obvious AI slop. Really sums up the lack of authenticity, the lack of interest, and the grift. Someone spent 10 minutes on this and called it a day's work.
Reposted by Alex Wellerstein
May as well dive right in.
Did you know that dogs in ancient Mesopotamia also refused to drop the ball?
According to a Sumerian proverb, “The dog understands ‘Take it!’ It does not understand ‘Put it down!’”
Source: cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts/34...
Did you know that dogs in ancient Mesopotamia also refused to drop the ball?
According to a Sumerian proverb, “The dog understands ‘Take it!’ It does not understand ‘Put it down!’”
Source: cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts/34...
November 13, 2024 at 11:20 AM
May as well dive right in.
Did you know that dogs in ancient Mesopotamia also refused to drop the ball?
According to a Sumerian proverb, “The dog understands ‘Take it!’ It does not understand ‘Put it down!’”
Source: cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts/34...
Did you know that dogs in ancient Mesopotamia also refused to drop the ball?
According to a Sumerian proverb, “The dog understands ‘Take it!’ It does not understand ‘Put it down!’”
Source: cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts/34...
So one thing I have learned is that apparently in French universities, every class has to elect a "student representative" in the first week or two who will serve as a sort of ombudsman for the course and also is involved in the evaluation process. This is taken as a patently obvious thing to do!
January 28, 2026 at 4:08 PM
So one thing I have learned is that apparently in French universities, every class has to elect a "student representative" in the first week or two who will serve as a sort of ombudsman for the course and also is involved in the evaluation process. This is taken as a patently obvious thing to do!
Reposted by Alex Wellerstein
🚨 It is now 85 SECONDS TO MIDNIGHT on the #DoomsdayClock, the closest it has ever been to midnight.
Learn why here:
thebulletin.org/doomsday-clo...
Learn why here:
thebulletin.org/doomsday-clo...
January 27, 2026 at 3:11 PM
🚨 It is now 85 SECONDS TO MIDNIGHT on the #DoomsdayClock, the closest it has ever been to midnight.
Learn why here:
thebulletin.org/doomsday-clo...
Learn why here:
thebulletin.org/doomsday-clo...