Peaceful nuclear explosions

Peaceful nuclear explosions (PNEs) refer to the use of nuclear explosives for non-military purposes, primarily for civil engineering projects such as excavation, mining, or creating underground facilities. The concept emerged during the Cold War, where the idea was to harness the immense energy released by a nuclear explosion for constructive purposes rather than destructive ones. The most notable example of PNEs was promoted by the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1960s and 1970s.