Fine Structure

Formerly Top-secret material (video even!) of the 1958 test where a Hydrogen bomb was sent above the atmosphere and triggered to test the effects of the Van Allen radiation belts on the resultant (bomb-created) radiation.

Two interesting things: Van Allen immediately jumps on board the project to see if they can disrupt the radiation belts he recently discovered, which I think is totally weird. And the colors of the explosion in the atmosphere are fascinating and probably very beautiful in person, though I can't say I'd ever want to see them with my own eyes.

Chock-full of good stuff. I love NPR. All stories should have this much interesting material.