The Ivy Mike nuclear test, conducted by the United States on November 1, 1952, marked a pivotal moment in the history of nuclear weapons as the first successful detonation of a hydrogen bomb. This groundbreaking experiment, which completely vaporized Elugelab Island in the Marshall Islands, demonstrated the unprecedented destructive power of thermonuclear devices and ushered in a new era of the Cold War arms race.

Shoe-fitting fluoroscopes, popular in shoe stores from the 1920s to the 1970s, used X-ray technology to visualize foot bones inside shoes, promising a "scientific" approach to shoe fitting. Despite their initial appeal, these devices exposed customers and employees to dangerous levels of radiation, leading to their eventual ban and serving as a cautionary tale about the misuse of medical technology for commercial purposes.

Japan's political landscape is poised for a dramatic shift as the country prepares for what observers are calling a "wild west" leadership race, signaling a potentially unpredictable and fiercely contested battle for the nation's top political position.

On October 2, 2024, a 500-pound U.S. bomb from World War II unexpectedly detonated at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan, creating a large crater on a taxiway and causing significant disruptions to airport operations, with over 80 flights canceled, as reported by CBS News.