Defense industry journalists Sharon Weinberger and Nathan Hodge took a two year tour of key locales related to nuclear weaponry and turned it into a book, A Nuclear Family Vacation. The pair visited a slew of intriguing destination, including the "Underground Pentagon" bunker where Cheney allegedly hangs out, the Isfahan Uranium Conversion Facility in Iran, the Trinity Test Site, and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee, which until 9/11 hosted an annual Department of Energy deer hunt. IEEE Spectrum reviewed the book and posted a a slideshow from the "Nuclear Family Vacation." Looks like a fascinating read! From the article:
The 1955 Apple-2 bomb was designed for "civil effects testing" at the Nevada Test Site. The government built make-believe houses and stores and filled them with mannequin families to understand how civilian infrastructure would be disrupted by a nuclear blast. This shack (seen above) is a survivor of Apple-2.
Link to IEEE Spectrum article,
Link to buy A Nuclear Family Vacation
UPDATE: Noah Schacthman kindly reminded me that Sharon Weinberger also blogs at Danger Room. Noah posted a terrific interview with her today about the new book! Link
