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

There is a nuclear test ban treaty. I think North Korea is the only nuclear power that has not signed it. The rest do not test nuclear weapons. The US Department of Energy uses super computers to simulate nuclear explosions. I do not understand the details. If you go top500.org to look at the top 500 supercomputers, there is usually at least 1 in the top 10 from the Department of Energy.