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: Truman and the Secret Struggle for Control of the Atomic Age by Alex Wellerstein
President Truman only received partial and misleading information ahead of the atomic bombing of Japan, according to this sensat...
www.publishersweekly.com
Publisher's Weekly has given THE MOST AWFUL RESPONSIBILITY a starred review: "It’s a remarkable act of reading between the lines and a dark warning about how decisions unfold in the halls of power." www.publishersweekly.com/9780063379435
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...
Reposted by Alex Wellerstein
Podcast listeners of #Nukesky:
Dr Alex Wellerstein (@wellerstein.bsky.social) was interviewed for an hour regarding his new book THE MOST AWFUL RESPONSIBILITY: TRUMAN & THE SECRET STRUGGLE FOR CONTROL OF THE ATOMIC AGE.
Host is Andrew Pace. Seek it wherever fine podcasts are sold, er, given away.
Dr Alex Wellerstein (@wellerstein.bsky.social) was interviewed for an hour regarding his new book THE MOST AWFUL RESPONSIBILITY: TRUMAN & THE SECRET STRUGGLE FOR CONTROL OF THE ATOMIC AGE.
Host is Andrew Pace. Seek it wherever fine podcasts are sold, er, given away.
Alex Wellerstein, "The Most Awful Responsibility: Truman and the Secret Struggle for Control of the Atomic Age" (Harper, 2025) - New Books Network
newbooksnetwork.com
January 26, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Podcast listeners of #Nukesky:
Dr Alex Wellerstein (@wellerstein.bsky.social) was interviewed for an hour regarding his new book THE MOST AWFUL RESPONSIBILITY: TRUMAN & THE SECRET STRUGGLE FOR CONTROL OF THE ATOMIC AGE.
Host is Andrew Pace. Seek it wherever fine podcasts are sold, er, given away.
Dr Alex Wellerstein (@wellerstein.bsky.social) was interviewed for an hour regarding his new book THE MOST AWFUL RESPONSIBILITY: TRUMAN & THE SECRET STRUGGLE FOR CONTROL OF THE ATOMIC AGE.
Host is Andrew Pace. Seek it wherever fine podcasts are sold, er, given away.
Reposted by Alex Wellerstein
1) With the US facing a tangible political crisis, games history that focuses (in part) on America seems rather trivial. But, it's also illuminating/diverting/distracting. A commenter on the interview @wellerstein.bsky.social kindly did with me reminded me of SPI's 1976/77 game After the Holocaust
January 26, 2026 at 12:53 PM
1) With the US facing a tangible political crisis, games history that focuses (in part) on America seems rather trivial. But, it's also illuminating/diverting/distracting. A commenter on the interview @wellerstein.bsky.social kindly did with me reminded me of SPI's 1976/77 game After the Holocaust
Reposted by Alex Wellerstein
A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.
January 25, 2026 at 12:28 PM
A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.
I've been watching season 2 of "The Pitt," and it's marvelous and wonderful and like season 1 it just keeps me in total awe of people who work in ERs — the nurses, the doctors, the surgeons, the residents, even the janitors. These are people who give so much.
January 25, 2026 at 11:07 AM
I've been watching season 2 of "The Pitt," and it's marvelous and wonderful and like season 1 it just keeps me in total awe of people who work in ERs — the nurses, the doctors, the surgeons, the residents, even the janitors. These are people who give so much.
NUKEMAP is apparently making guest appearances on the London metro, to the surprise of many (including me — but I explicitly make it clear people can use its imagery for whatever without asking me!)
Sympa la version londonienne des p'tits poèmes du métro
January 24, 2026 at 5:44 PM
NUKEMAP is apparently making guest appearances on the London metro, to the surprise of many (including me — but I explicitly make it clear people can use its imagery for whatever without asking me!)