On August 6, 1945 — with World War II raging in the Pacific —
President Truman authorized the first use of an atomic bomb. At the
Bradbury Science Museum in Los Alamos, New Mexico, visitors are offered
both sides of the debate in a retrospective covering the war era —
along with a dazzling display of current technological and scientific
developments and the latest research in the field of bioscience,
including the human genome.
Many of the exhibits — for instance, those of lasers, accelerators and
supercomputers — are interactive and feature videos and science
demonstrations. Others offer hands-on activities that are exciting both
for kids and adults. In the Life Sciences section of the museum,
displays present new research on the human brain, as well as other
biotechnologies. In the genome area, visitors can see a giant diagram of
chromosome 16, mapped by Los Alamos scientists.
As for the use of atomic weapons, the National Security gallery
of the museum shows how the lab’s scientists are now putting greater
emphasis on reducing the danger to the world population caused by the
spread of nuclear weapons. In one exhibit, two satellites — part of the
nation’s first space-based, nuclear explosion detective system — float
above the museum floor.
For more information, call (505) 667-4444 or visit lanl.gov/museum.
