Mapping Nuclear Bomb Explosions

Quick question for you: how many nukes have ever been detonated? A few? A couple dozens? How about over 2,000.

Japanese artist Isao Hashimoto created a video clip mapping every single nuclear explosion from 1945 to 1998:

A metronomic beep every second represents months passing, and a different tone indicates explosions from different countries. It starts out slowly, with the Manhattan Project's single test in the US and the two terrible bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that ended World War II.

After a couple of minutes or so, however, once the USSR and Britain entered the nuclear club, the tests really start to build up, reaching a peak of nearly 140 in 1962, and remaining well over 40 each year until the mid-80s.

It's a compelling insight into the history of humanity's greatest destructive force, especially when you remember that only two nuclear explosions have ever been detonated offensively, both in 1945. Since then, despite more than 2,000 other tests and billions of dollars having been spent on their development, no nuclear warheads have been used in anger.

Wired has the video clip: Link (it starts off slow, but then it picks up frighteningly fast) - via Fark