80 Years Since Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Nuclear Legacy, Climate Risks, Hibakusha, and Survivor Trees

This New Scientist episode marks the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings by exploring the broader consequences of the Manhattan Project. It covers testing on Pacific atolls, long term health impacts on miners and workers, Hibakusha survivors, and the moral weight of nuclear weapons. The show also examines climate change as a threat to nuclear infrastructure, the Runit Dome’s precarious containment, and the hopeful initiative of survivor trees planted around the world by Green Legacy Hiroshima. The discussion moves from historical harms to present day policy debates about nuclear safety, justice for affected communities, and the role of nuclear energy in a zero carbon future.

Introduction

The episode commemorates 80 years since the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and broadens the discussion beyond immediate casualties to the vast, decades long costs of the Manhattan Project. It connects wartime science to long term environmental and health impacts, and to contemporary questions about climate risk and nuclear policy.

Marshall Islands, Dome Containment and Climate Risk

Testing on Bikini Atoll and Enewetak Atoll produced vast amounts of radioactive waste. A controversial cleanup strategy attempted to seal material in the Runit Dome, a fragile, 18 inch thick concrete cap over a water filled crater. The dome sits atop coral rock that can be permeable to groundwater, and rising seas and storms threaten its integrity. A 2024 U.S. Department of Energy report argued health risks would not increase if the dome failed, but critics warn the local communities remain exposed to long term contamination and climate impacts complicate remediation.

Health Burdens of Nuclear Development

Beyond Japan, the global health toll of uranium mining and nuclear production is discussed, including the Congo Shinkalabwe mine which supplied a large share of uranium for the Manhattan Project, often with little protection for indigenous workers. The discussion also covers U.S. sites like Hanford, Los Alamos, and Oak Ridge, where radiation exposure correlated with congenital issues and cancers. Trinity fallout and downwind contamination are highlighted as part of a broader, ongoing burden of nuclear weapons programs.

Survivors, Hibakusha and Korean Experiences

Survivors, known as Hibakusha, tell a powerful human story. The episode also addresses Korean Hibakusha, including the Hopjung County community in Korea that formed a large proportion of survivors returning after the war, and the long term discrimination they faced. The segment emphasizes the need for recognition and support for all affected communities.

Survivor Trees and Messages of Hope

Seeds from trees that survived the blasts have been distributed worldwide by Green Legacy Hiroshima. In the UK, Wakehurst Botanical Garden hosts survivor trees, such as a camphor tree, with plans to study seed biology and archive material in seed banks to preserve this heritage as a symbol of resilience and a nuclear-free future.

Looking Ahead

The episode closes with a discussion about the future of nuclear power and weapons, the need for climate resilient infrastructure, and Annie Jacobson's reflections on the dangerous allure of nuclear arsenals, urging a cautious path toward disarmament and safer energy solutions.