The Earth exploded into the nuclear age on 16 July 1945.On that day, the US tested a completely new type of weapon in the New Mexico desert. Crafted from a tennis-ball-sized plutonium sphere, the Trinity bomb produced an explosion equivalent to 20,000 tonnes of TNT.
Sixty years on, tens of thousands of tonnes of plutonium and enriched uranium have been produced. The global nuclear arsenal stands at about 27,000 bombs. Nine countries very probably possess nuclear weapons, while 40 others have access to the materials and technology to make them.
But nuclear technology has also been used for peaceful means. The first nuclear reactor to provide electricity to a national grid opened in England in 1956. Now, 442 reactors in 32 nations generate 16% of the world's electricity.
The House of Representatives has rejected funding for the Reliable Replacement Warhead, which had been touted as safer and more secure than current nuclear warheads
Originally rubbished by critics, the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, designed to keep radioactive fuel from "rogue" nations, has attracted a host of new members
The US is calling for India to be allowed back in the nuclear fold, but it has not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty – what message would this send?
Documents obtained by New Scientist under freedom of information legislation reveal that two of the UK's worst nuclear weapons accidents could have been averted
A statement submitted to Congress argues for replacement of Cold War era nuclear weapons, but critics say they are not needed, and may antagonise other countries
As a quake hits a Japanese reactor, plans are drawn up to build floating and underwater reactors, the siting of new plants has never been so contentious
A new report concludes that deep burial of the waste is the best solution – and scientists say up to two-thirds of the country may be geologically suitable
Mining the heat stored in deep rocks could meet a growing portion of US electricity demand and replace ageing nuclear and coal plants, says a new report
