On 29 November 1951, the United States conducted the first underground atomic explosion at Frenchman Flat, Nevada, a groundbreaking test in the evolving history of nuclear weapons.
This subterranean detonation, codenamed “Uncle,” was part of the Operation Buster-Jangle series, designed to reduce radioactive fallout by containing the explosion below the surface.
The test marked a pivotal shift towards safer nuclear testing methods amidst rising global concerns over the environmental and health impacts of atmospheric detonations.
Frenchman Flat, a barren expanse within the Nevada Test Site, would go on to become synonymous with the atomic age, a stark reminder of humanity's venture into the perilous domain of nuclear power.
