This Day in History: 1961-12-10

Terraforming with nukes An underground nuclear test explosion near Carlsbad, New Mexico on this day in 1961 marks the beginning of 27 tests of “peaceful nuclear explosions” that would carve out harbors and canals. The following year (1962), environmentalists and native groups would organize to stop one of these, Project Chariot, which was a plan to create a new harbor using five nuclear explosions near Point Hope, Alaska. The tests continued through 1973, but no actual nuclear terraforming projects were undertaken.