Project Plowshare

United States government program

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

Project Plowshare was a United States government program that explored the use of nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes. Initiated in 1957, it was part of the broader "Atoms for Peace" initiative, which aimed to demonstrate the beneficial applications of nuclear technology beyond weaponry.1

The program involved detonating small nuclear devices underground to achieve various objectives, such as creating reservoirs, stimulating natural gas production, and facilitating large-scale excavation projects. However, concerns about radioactive contamination and the potential for unintended environmental consequences led to the program's eventual discontinuation. The last test under Project Plowshare occurred in 1973.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Edward Teller
…he was a champion of Project Plowshare, an unsuccessful federal government program to find peaceful uses for atomic explosives. In the 1970s Teller remained a prominent government adviser on nuclear weapons policy, and in 1982–83 he was a major influence in Pres. Ronald Reagan’s proposal of the Strategic Defense Initiative,…
Read More
…he was a champion of Project Plowshare, an unsuccessful federal government program to find peaceful uses for atomic explosives. In the 1970s Teller remained a prominent government adviser on nuclear weapons policy, and in 1982–83 he was a major influence in Pres. Ronald Reagan’s proposal of the Strategic Defense Initiative,…
Read More