How do governments and militaries test out nuclear weapons without creating disastrous effects on the environment/ecosystem?

Question

Just like the title says, I don’t understand how they can test nuclear bombs in the desert, or Bikini Atoll (in the ocean) without permanently irradiating the ecosystem (and consequently, Earth) beyond repair.

They’ve tested dozens and dozens of nuclear bombs throughout the years, and I’m confused why that hasn’t messed our world up?

In: 352

Answer 1

Dozens? Try over 2000. Basically nuclear weapons only have a few kg of nuclear fuel so there isn’t much fallout compared to a nuclear reactor blowing up. Also most nuclear weapons are detonated underground so little radiation is at the surface. That being said in nevada there are places that are badly irradiated that no one is allowed to live there due to the sheer number of tests and the contaminated ground water.