REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana Episode Summary: "Nukes Below Zero" Release Date: April 22, 2025

Introduction

In the chilling episode titled "Nukes Below Zero," host Luke Lamanna delves deep into one of America's most covert Cold War endeavors: Camp Century. Situated beneath the icy expanse of Greenland, this secretive military base was not only a testament to American ingenuity but also a symbol of the intense geopolitical tensions of the era. Through meticulous research and gripping storytelling, Lamanna uncovers the hidden layers of Camp Century, revealing its true purpose and the lasting implications it holds for today’s world.

The Cold War Context and the Birth of Camp Century

[04:22] The story begins in the late 1950s, a period marked by escalating tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. President Dwight Eisenhower, grappling with public anxiety over the Soviet advancements in missile and space technology, sought a bold initiative to demonstrate American resilience and technological prowess. Responding to these pressures, the U.S. military conceived the idea of Camp Century—a massive underground military installation and scientific research hub located 100 feet beneath Greenland's ice cap.

Eisenhower's Vision:
"The United States would not sit back and lose the Cold War," Lamanna narrates, highlighting Eisenhower’s determination to assert American dominance on the global stage.

Establishing Camp Century

Colonel John Kirkering was appointed to lead the ambitious project. [04:22] Tasked with locating a suitable site, Kirkering and his team embarked on a grueling reconnaissance mission across Greenland's harsh terrain. Their objective was to find a flat, stable area close to the Soviet border yet sufficiently remote to maintain secrecy.

[17:51] Through perseverance, Kirkering identified a promising plateau, facilitating the construction of Camp Century. The base was envisioned to serve dual purposes: a military stronghold and a cutting-edge research facility. The inclusion of a nuclear reactor was central to ensuring a continuous power supply, crucial for maintaining operations in such an extreme environment.

Life at Camp Century

[35:38] The daily life at Camp Century was a blend of rigorous military duties and advanced scientific research. Danish soldier Soren Gregersen, serving as a junior scientific aide, offers a glimpse into this unique existence. Initially enamored with the prospect of contributing to a pioneering project, Gregersen soon confronted the harsh realities of living in an underground fortress.

Soren Gregersen’s Reflection:
"I couldn’t believe that the Danish Ministry of Defense had chosen my application. It was like finding a magic lamp," Gregersen recalls, emphasizing the significance of his role in the larger geopolitical narrative.

The Nuclear Reactor Crisis

A pivotal moment in the Camp Century saga occurred when the nuclear reactor, intended to be the backbone of the base's power supply, encountered severe operational issues. [21:00] Initial attempts to activate the reactor resulted in uncontrolled radiation leaks, posing existential threats to the entire camp.

Gregersen’s Account:
"We were in danger. Our main energy source didn’t work," he recounts, capturing the tension and urgency of the situation. Despite efforts to mitigate the radiation leak using improvised solutions, the crisis underscored the inherent risks of relying on nuclear technology in such an unforgiving environment.

The Closure and Aftermath of Camp Century

By 1964, the cumulative challenges—ranging from technical failures to political pressures—led to the eventual abandonment of Camp Century. Captain James Barnett, leading the project, was forced to announce the closure to his disillusioned team. The reactor was decommissioned, and the base was left to succumb to the relentless Greenland ice.

[45:25] Decades later, revelations about Camp Century’s true mission surfaced. It was uncovered that the base was not merely a research facility but also a front for Project Iceworm—a covert operation aimed at establishing nuclear missile launch sites beneath the ice to strike Moscow, should tensions escalate into full-scale war.

The Legacy of Camp Century and Modern Implications

[33:40] The legacy of Camp Century is twofold. On one hand, the scientific data gathered, particularly from ice core samples, significantly advanced the field of paleoclimatology, providing invaluable insights into historical climate patterns. On the other, the environmental and geopolitical ramifications of the abandoned nuclear reactor and toxic waste pose ongoing challenges, especially in the context of global warming.

Environmental Concerns:
With Greenland's ice melting at unprecedented rates, there is a looming threat of exposing Camp Century's radioactive remnants. In 2017, Danish researchers confirmed that while the ice remains intact for now, the integrity of the camp's containment is precarious, raising alarms about potential ecological disasters.

Geopolitical Shifts:
Today's interest in Greenland has pivoted from military concerns to economic ones, particularly the opening of new Arctic shipping lanes due to climate change. The U.S. current ambitions to acquire Greenland are driven less by military strategy and more by the prospect of controlling vital maritime routes.

Conclusion

"Nukes Below Zero" offers a compelling exploration of Camp Century, weaving together threads of military strategy, scientific endeavor, and environmental stewardship. Luke Lamanna masterfully presents a narrative that not only uncovers historical truths but also connects them to present-day issues, emphasizing the enduring impact of Cold War decisions on our current world.

Notable Quotes

• Colonel John Kirkering on Public Assurance:
  "The US already had a conventional military base there, but this would be something else altogether. It would be both a massive military installation and a scientific research hub 100ft below the ice cap." [04:22]

• Walter Cronkite on Reactor Operations:
  "Men will stay behind here in their city under the ice, to continue man's battle against nature. He has brought his greatest scientific achievement, power from the atom, to the very top of the world. But can he live here?" [22:20]

• Soren Gregerson Reflecting on Project Iceworm:
  "I had thought I was on the frontier of science and human ingenuity, but the whole time, this bold and innovative science experiment was actually just a potential front for a dangerous Cold War game." [33:40]

Further Reading and Sources

For those intrigued by the depths of Camp Century's history, Lamanna recommends the following sources:

• "Camp: The Untold Story of America's Secret Arctic Military Base under the Greenland Ice" by Henry Nielsen
• Walter Cronkite's 1961 CBS report, "The City under the Ice"
• The documentary "The Hidden City Beneath Greenland's Ice"

Credits

This episode was written by Aaron Lan, sound designed by Ryan Potesta, and produced by Christopher B. Dunn and John Reed. Special thanks to the research team, including Ines Renick, Molly Quinlan Artwick, and Sheila Patterson for fact-checking. Executive production by Mr. Ballin and Nick Witters, with senior production leadership by Laura, Donna Palovota, Dave Schilling, and Rachel Engelman at Wondery.

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