Mmastodon WarNuclear first seen 10 h ago, last 6 min ago, peak #5
41 years ago, one man's judgment averted nuclear war
Original: 41 years ago today, one man saved us from world-ending nuclear war
Forty-one years ago, on September 26, 1983, Soviet lieutenant colonel Stanislav Petrov judged a false alarm that warned of an incoming American nuclear strike. Rather than report an attack up the chain, he treated the alert as a system error, averting a potential retaliatory launch. Commentators are marking the anniversary as a reminder of how close the Cold War came to catastrophe and how much rested on one individual's calm decision.
Why now: The anniversary of the 1983 incident prompts renewed discussion of Petrov's role in preventing nuclear war.
Stanislav PetrovSoviet UnionVox
Rank over time, top of the chart is #1. 59 snapshots from 10 h ago to 6 min ago.
Evidence
- 41 years ago today, one man saved us from world-ending nuclear war · Vox
On September 26, 1983, a Soviet colonel saved the world.