Baneberry and Beyond

Deadly Baneberry

In 1970, Baneberry, an underground nuclear test went horribly wrong. A plume of highly radioactive fall-out shot out of the ground, reaching an altitude of 8,000 feet or more. As you can see, this radioactive plume took the shape of a wolf, a harbinger of death. (read more)

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Accident, Intentional Sabotage, or Something Else

It’s at least remotely possible that this was one big accident. Sure, perhaps the men in charge didn’t realize the detonation chamber was filled with saturated montmorillonite clay – which cannot compress and – when the blast went off, the superheated clay steam had to go somewhere. (read more)

Edward A Joyce, Five Stars September 11, 2017

442 Comments

This is a G-R-E-A-T read. I suspected it to be a dry historical legal explanation and it turned out be all that–but read more like a movie script. If you want a “behind the scenes” idea of what happened after the explosions; is like to be a lawyer and prepare …

Fran Wallace, Five Stars, Great Read, February 20, 2018

40 Comments

I grew up in Las Vegas and we were ushered out to the football field stadium to watch the mushroom cloud. It’s interesting to know the background and the results of the testing and the info the public received during this testing period. Great read.

Diane Taylor, Five Stars, July 11, 2018

43 Comments

Attention history, mystery and atomic energy buffs. You might want to check out a book, The Baneberry Disaster. It’s the story of the Baneberry underground nuclear test whose radioactive cloud escaped from underground and exposed 86 Nevada-test-site workers to radiation, two of whom died of Leukemia. (read more) The book …

A. Costandina Titus, congresswoman and author of Bombs in the Backyard: Atomic Testing and American Politics

29 Comments

“The Baneberry saga is a story that should be told, and Mr. Johns is the one to tell it.” —A. Costandina Titus, congresswoman and author of Bombs in the Backyard: Atomic Testing and American Politics

Environmental History

10 Comments

“Larry and Alan Johns’ The Baneberry Disaster is a gripping and timely account of an American nuclear episode that is long overdue for closer examination.” —Environmental History

The Baneberry Disaster is a compelling recollection

5 Comments

“The Baneberry Disaster is a compelling recollection of the causes and human consequences of the failure of the underground Baneberry test in December 1970. Its focus is the resulting decades-long search for justice by lawyer brothers in Las Vegas who investigated the accident and pursued the case on behalf of the …

Mary D. Wammack, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

29 Comments

—Mary D. Wammack, University of Nevada, Las Vegas “This book is a remarkable achievement in perseverance by the authors trying to gain justice for two individuals who were exposed to radiation released from the underground nuclear test, Baneberry. Harley Roberts and Bill Nunamaker were exposed when Baneberry was detonated and …

Glyn G. Caldwell, MS, MD

8 Comments

—Glyn G. Caldwell, MS, MD This book is a fascinating review of both the unintended consequences of atmospheric and underground nuclear testing resulting in workers exposures when plans and safety measures go awry. (read more) The attorneys, Larry and Alan Johns have written a well-documented and thoughtful book about their …