06/16/2014
How A Nuclear Bomb Nearly Detonated Over the U.S.
The United States nearly faced a catastrophic accident in 1961 when a B-52 bomber broke apart in the air, dropping two nuclear bombs — one armed — that struck the ground near Goldsboro, North Carolina. While we've known about the Goldsboro incident for years, what we didn't know was that both bombs were dangerously close to exploding.
■Class discussion: How many nuclear weapons are there in the world? Who has them? What are the dangers of a nuclear weapon being used in war? What are the dangers of a nuclear weapon being used by a terrorist? What are the dangers of an accident involving a nuclear weapon? Do you expect a nuclear weapon to be used in your lifetime? Why or why not?