Do nuclear bombs make us safer? As Christopher Nolan’s film Oppenheimer storms the Oscars, fears of nuclear war have returned.
X
Next
The Oscar winner and a question of survival
Do nuclear bombs make us safer? As Christopher Nolan's film Oppenheimer storms the Oscars, fears of nuclear war have returned.
X
PreviousNext
What's happening?
On Sunday night, British director Christopher Nolan won the prize he had been waiting for his whole life: the Academy AwardHollywood's most prestigious honour, awarded annually since 1929 by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Golden Globes is often seen to predict potential Academy Award winners. for Best Picture. His blockbuster film Oppenheimer picked up seven awards in all at this year's Oscars ceremony.
Oppenheimer explores the life of J Robert Oppenheimer: the American scientist who helped to create nuclear weaponsA bomb or other weapon that uses nuclear energy to cause a big explosion. .
Oppenheimer's actions changed the world forever. In August 1945, the US government dropped two bombs on Japanese cities. Japan gave in and World War Two ended.
Afterwards, countries rushed to build their own. The Soviet UnionOfficially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). A powerful group of communist republics, the biggest being Russia, that existed from 1922 to 1991. and the United States entered an arms race, each attempting to have more and more nuclear weapons.
As a result the world is always at riskThe chance or possibility of something bad happening. of nuclear war. A single nuclear weapon can destroy a city. Some think the world would be a better place if they were never invented.
Find out more
Others think nuclear weapons have stopped another world war. The last 80 years have been quite peaceful. Some countries may have decided not to go to war, because they knew the other side had nuclear weapons.
And there is a problem for those who want to get rid of nuclear weapons. Other countries have them too. We cannot force everyone else to destroy them. And they could always just make new ones.
Do nuclear bombs make us safer?
Yes! Since 1945, there has not been another world war. Countries know it is a bad idea due to the risk of nuclear weapons. And so nuclear weapons have saved lives.
No! Nuclear weapons mean one person with their finger on one button can do a huge amount of damage. This does not make us safer.
X
Previous
Keywords
Academy Award - Hollywood's most prestigious honour, awarded annually since 1929 by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Golden Globes is often seen to predict potential Academy Award winners.
Nuclear weapons - A bomb or other weapon that uses nuclear energy to cause a big explosion.
Soviet Union - Officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). A powerful group of communist republics, the biggest being Russia, that existed from 1922 to 1991.
Risk - The chance or possibility of something bad happening.
The Oscar winner and a question of survival
Shaken not stirred: After his Oppenheimer triumph, Cillian Murphy (above) is in the running to play James Bond. Glossary
Academy Award - Hollywood's most prestigious honour, awarded annually since 1929 by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Golden Globes is often seen to predict potential Academy Award winners.
Nuclear weapons - A bomb or other weapon that uses nuclear energy to cause a big explosion.
Soviet Union - Officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). A powerful group of communist republics, the biggest being Russia, that existed from 1922 to 1991.
Risk - The chance or possibility of something bad happening.