Nuclear holocaust was closer than we thought in 1962

+ drawing a line between stalking and speech US Edition - Today's top story: Oppenheimer feared nuclear annihilation – and only a chance pause by a Soviet submariner kept it from happening in 1962 [View in browser]( US Edition | 10 March 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Happy Sunday − and welcome to the best of The Conversation U.S. Here are a few of our recently published stories: - [Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control pill, will be on shelves soon − here are some key things to know]( - [April’s eclipse will mean interruptions in solar power generation, which could strain electrical grids]( - [The failures of ‘Oppenheimer’ and the ascent of the foreign film - 6 essential reads for the Oscars]( It’s well known that World War III almost broke out during the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. But it was astounding – and scary – to learn that global nuclear annihilation was averted by “just plain dumb luck” when a sailor got stuck on a ladder. That ultimately prevented a first-strike order from his captain from being carried out. [That’s the untold story documented]( by Mark Robert Rank of the school of Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis in his forthcoming book, “The Random Factor.” He shared his account of that fateful day in October 1962 with senior politics editor Naomi Schalit, who promptly recognized it as a must-read story – and readers agreed, making it the most engaging and deeply read story we published last week. Rank sets the scene by explaining how the crisis began before focusing on one nuclear-armed sub whose leaders thought that it was under attack by American ships. Having been encouraged to strike first and ask questions later, Soviet navy Capt. Valentin Savitsky prepares to give the order to launch nuclear weapons. That’s when fate, luck or a miracle intervened. It’s a riveting piece, and just the kind of Conversation story I really love – because I learned something fascinating I didn’t already know. Bryan Keogh Managing Editor Readers' picks Onlookers at a Key West, Fla., beach where the Army’s Hawk anti-aircraft missiles were positioned during the Cuban missile crisis. Underwood Archives/Getty Images [Oppenheimer feared nuclear annihilation – and only a chance pause by a Soviet submariner kept it from happening in 1962]( Mark Robert Rank, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis During the Cuban missile crisis, World War III was likely averted by what one US official called ‘just plain dumb luck.’ - [Lithium-ion batteries don’t work well in the cold − a battery researcher explains the chemistry at low temperatures]( Wesley Chang, Drexel University Electric vehicles are catching on across the US, but they’re also catching on fire in colder regions like the Northeast and Midwest. - [The Constitution sets some limits on the people’s choices for president - but the Supreme Court rules it’s unconstitutional for state governments to decide on Trump’s qualifications]( Robert A. 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