The Haunting Fate of a Pacific Island Paradise

Discover the haunting history of Bikini Atoll, the Pacific island transformed by U.S. nuclear testing. From devastating explosions to lasting environmental and cultural impacts-this is the story of Bikini's tragic legacy.
Love content? Check out Simon's other KZbin Channels:
Megaprojects: / @megaprojects9649
Warfronts: / @warographics643
Sideprojects: / @sideprojects
Into The Shadows: / @intotheshadows
Today I Found Out: / @todayifoundout
Brain Blaze: / @brainblaze6526
Casual Criminalist: / @thecasualcriminalist
Decoding the Unknown: / @decodingtheunknown2373
Celestium: / @astrographics-ve4yq

[@michaelholt8590]

Bob Hope put it best. "After WW2, we found the one place that hadn't been touched by the war, and we blew it out of the water."

[@Holgerdanske688]

I got to meet Bob Hope a few times. I lived down the street from the Hope Residence in Palm Springs and as a local we got free passes to the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic every year. Oh the Nostalgia.

[@thedude3620]

???? Nice story i guess​@@Holgerdanske688

[@ashleynelson1266]

My grandfather was a witness to one of the tests while he was stationed on the USS Deliver. He never talked about it. We only found out when going through his military documents after he was diagnosed with dementia.

[@jay_rubyx]

Surely the people writing the US history books accidentally forgot to include that part 😅

[@y0sarian]

Who lives in a wasteland under the sea, Glowing and radioactive was he! If nautical sadness be something ye wish, Just look over there at that three eye’d fish!

[@awsumaustin7650]

SpongeBobs race had evolved long before the atomic bombs. But that's just a theory

[@SpetsnazVDV22]

Ah yes, Bikini Atoll. Home of the craziest atomic weapons test in history and the home of SpongeBob SquarePants and the residents of Bikini Bottom. (It’s a true fact, the creators confirmed it! Look it up!)

[@kamcashman]

Was the name -bikini bottom too ambiguous? LoL

[@SpetsnazVDV22]

@ true, but many on the internet have argued it was a joke and the creators didn’t plan on the atoll being the setting. But they were wrong

[@the80hdgaming]

SpongeBob lore facts!!!

[@michaelmayhem350]

Yeah that idea is the radiation created him

[@SpetsnazVDV22]

@ good old radioactivity, bringing certain death and genetic mutations to every living organism it comes across.

[@imaPirate420]

Hey Mr Whistler. You do.a fantastic job on all 1,239 of your channels..hello from Washington DC

[@yesterdayitrained]

It’s now 1,241! 😂

[@thedude3620]

I know Right! 😂 I don't even know where to watch him anymore

[@bryangonzalez1398]

One major health issue facing many of the displaced Marshallese that needs mentioning is the high rates of diabetes caused by the food that has been provided by the US as part of reparations. The food that is provided is similar to what has traditionally been found on native reservations, mostly flour, lard, etc. and has led to record levels of diabetes in this displaced community. Equally the largest of the atoll's making up the Marshall islands, kwajalein, is home to a massive US base that takes up the majority of land available to the Marshallese.

[@kamikazestryker]

I learned about the Bikini Atoll nuclear tests. But it was never mentioned that there were people living nearby. I thought that area was complete empty. What a shame destroying peoples homeland for such a weapon.

[@thedude3620]

Yeah We're like that (Americans) We like to bully every country and their leaders. Don't be jealous buddy.

[@BobHewittMusic]

smh... Not one mention of Bikini Bottom in the video... Glad I checked the comments!!😂🤣🍍

[@RandyVictory420]

SIMON! 😧 My Man! Ya gotta take care of that throat! Just the thought of something happening to my favourite presenter! (That's right, look it up...) Yikes!

[@SaS-cs7hz]

Honestly my favorite Simon channel. But I do love them all.

[@freddiemercury2075]

But nobody, not even Simon himself knows how many channels he has.

[@lauraashley1934]

Simon needs to get sponsored by some lozenges or throat spray stat. Take care of that throat, Fact Boy!

[@GregColton]

Great video, but I miss the longer Places videos. I like the deep dives into a place’s history.

[@roxcastaneda]

Absolutely horrible what the American government did to the islanders!

[@rebornscannon2789]

Guess we'll just be selective with our memory and totally forget that both german and japanese ALSO did horrible things to the locals as well right. Nah its all about the US being big and bad and oppressive right, here's an idea how about grow the fuck up and actually learn how the world works cause news flash there are NO good sides in a war PERIOD, there is only victory or defeat thats how it goes.

[@jaytaylor629]

It's the United States. They have ZERO regard for other countries' people.

[@canbeast]

Its crazy to see when you go to the northern part of the Enewetak Atoll and see the giant craters still very much visible

[@aceca5147]

6:30 Another reason the spongebob writers used this shot in several spongebob episodes. A nod to Bikini Atoll and Bikini Bottom being the same place

[@wolfgangbergstrom6224]

New York, Nevada Pennsylvania, Prinz Eugen survived both Able and Baker. IJN Nagato survived able.

[@DmF1988]

Someone tell this guy he doesnt need to make a new youtube channel for each video he makes

[@Hillbilly001]

Godzilla's birthplace.

[@oenhammonds3739]

🔥

[@Hillbilly001]

@oenhammonds3739 🦖🔥🧟

[@Voiceofreason-l5c]

I had quite a few patients from the Marshall Islands while working in Labor & Delivery. A woman in our rural Western USA town had a connection in the islands, and made arrangements for pregnant women to fly here to deliver their babies and be adopted. I always wondered if this was further exploitation of a vulnerable population or if the mothers were fully informed and truly wanted their child to have a better life and opportunities than they had. It felt a little bit like human trafficking, as we weren't able to communicate effectively, only having a single translator.

[@zill0678]

i for one am glad that the nuclear test were carried out. not only by the US but by the soviet union, UK and France. it is my firm belief that these test gave those in power undisputable, undeniable and complete clarity as to the effects and devastation the use of such weapons pose. no nation harboring nuclear weapons can claim ignorance as to the consequences of their use. the test definitively show that nuclear weapons destroy the very thing you would want to capture, have long lasting effects that don't just effect the immediate area and cause suffering above and beyond that would would be considered inhuman. I further believe these test have delayed if not prevented world war 3 as no one wanted to be the one to end life on the planet. i can only hope humanity be wise enough to not use these monstrous weapons.

[@DK-gy7ll]

Unfortunately that is true. Humans will never believe something until they see it with their own eyes.

[@MarksArk2]

My father, who was on the US Navy at the time, participated in Operation Crossroads as a corpsman. His job was to take pigs, goats, and other animals out to the target ships that were in concentric circles from the air detonation point. Afterward, along with other men, they removed the live, dying, and dead animals back to the surface ships for study.

[@CptVyker]

Spongebob's hood!

[@a7734999]

Waiting for a Decoding the Unknown about the SpongeBob conspiracy.

[@the80hdgaming]

Someone gets the lore of SpongeBob... 😂

[@Mickelan11]

Why the profile view? Doesn't make sense!

[@shinkicker404]

It is an odd choice, Ngl. Sometimes it’s good, but not sure what it adds here. Maybe something like news channels do where there is a camera at a different angle and he turns his upper body to face it periodically or at section changes.

[@RandyVictory420]

@@shinkicker404 Heck, I watch Simon enough that I'll take a little odd variety here & there... Don't want too much of a good/same thing!

[@djbernardjones]

Not into fact boi side head. Just goes against all fact work the boi does. Unless it was a deep cut sale for the head shaving devices or something, i would get it... like his shoes, socks, or underwear sale pitches. But side head of fact boi is just not the eye contact I'm into or used to.

[@JesseJoyce-cj2xg]

My grandpa was there for Operation Crossroads in 1946, drafted into the Navy when he turned 18 right at the end of the war. You really don’t have to use ai images, there are actually lots of real pictures, you know, with historical value.

[@rebornscannon2789]

You could also not be a snowflake over AI images to ya know, the genie is OUT of the bottle and no amount of whining from people like you are gonna change the fact that people WILL USE AI art if they want to GET OVER IT.

[@EHBC]

For the love of god, flip that midrange switch on the SM7. Way too muffled as is.

[@johnpettit6886]

The intro gives you an idea about how big the pacific ocean is, right now.

[@Adiscretefirm]

3:26 that's a wartime map showing anchoring spots for ships

[@JaredK.7]

How many different channels does this guy have? I feel like I keep getting information from him everywhere lmao

[@BaronVonQuiply]

He has 10 listed, counting this one

[@ShinHakumen]

Welcome to the Whistlerverse.

[@freddiemercury2075]

​@@ShinHakumen that's actually a really good one - Whistlerverse.

[@GaborSzitas22]

Side profile Simon Wistler?

[@MrDan708]

Sadly, the US govt has dealt with the Marshallese in much the same fashion as American Indians.

[@freddiemercury2075]

SpongeBob is a really really dark and sad cartoon, a story about deformed and mutated animals trying to survive.

[@SvendegardCatkicker]

"have you been to the marshall islands?" why, yes, yes i have, i spent a year on Kwajalien in the 80's. ive actually stood on the beach of roi-namurh and watched a titan II missle warhead come right at my face...it missed ;)

[@meatwad3000]

I live there. Its so nice and peaceful and i never need a flashlight

[@sopcannon]

New mic who dis?

[@MyNameThe1st]

We don't need war to be the worst... What a nasty piece of history.

[@flamingburitto]

WHO LIVES IN A PINEAPPLE UNDER THE SEA!

[@BaronVonQuiply]

I do, housing rates have gone insane

[@petshoggoth23]

Sponge Bob Square Pants!

[@bjorndejong6338]

But no one is get to be responsable for all the cancer in the world we live in today

[@imaPirate420]

How crazy..I just researched the atols..it's wild..there are many atols

[@rogaineablar5608]

Simon sounds rough. I REALLY hate the profile shots. Just use more graphics or maps.

[@im_a_simulation433]

Old stuff you already did a similar video about this and the most dangerous Islands since it has the done where it was dump "all" radioactive stuff and that is leaking, etc

[@dernvader6876]

Let's be real, its not as if the US governement gave the Bikini Islanders a choice to leave or not. They would be forced to leave in any case. It was actually about 10x larger than planned due to the "pancake" layering of the materials used. The scientist (forget his name) who designed this "pancake" warned the military that the explosion would be 10x what they expected, but of course the military didn't listen.

[@EvLloyd]

I wonder if we can get Drump to visit?

[@chaddog313]

Most of the radioactive contamination was left by the smaller atomic tests. The large hydrogen bomb tests had far less radioactive contamination due to their higher yields. As a result the higher yeilds explosions consumed a higher percentage of their fissionable materials.

[@Patricia-zq5ug]

Crime against the planet.

[@matthewring8301]

What I never understood was: why didn’t they just leave the people on bikini and use the uninhabited island instead….

[@geoffreyrichardson8738]

Actually Crossroad Charlie test was cancelled due to the high radioactive contamination from test Baker.

[@ryanallen9514]

I recommend Halls or tea lol

[@dannypope1860]

I think your editor meant, “no longer habitable”…. Writing, “no longer inhabitable” means it’s livable… or habitable.

[@Paul-uj8bk]

The 1988 tribunal overplayed their hand. They demanded an amount in excess of $1 million per inhabitant. This would have nearly doubled the amount that the US has paid to the Marshallese in "healthcare and resettlement" costs.

[@ericwarmath1091]

Yeah you could live there but for how well and how long as another matter.

[@jay_rubyx]

Swear it sounded like you said “bikini asshole” in the beginning of the video 😂

[@nicklager1666]

As devastating as the bombs are i must admit that its something majestic about the mushroom clouds. Sounds like you need a break. Take care of your voice, Simon.

[@MarioRodriguez-yk1ms]

What if Pineapple was codeword for the shape of the bomb

[@volvo145]

I feel that it’s only a matter of time until Simon starts. I discount biographics Janne yes why please take up things in the public eye. We are interested and you have many millions of subscribers. I want to hear both sides. that being said, Simon has some really good Janne’s like you’re into the shadows and the celestial for instance and of course, Castrol, Kriminalist and the coding the unknown they are in Normas Lee huge I’m good and I hope Danny got a lot of money for the defamation. Simon put him through in a video that’s not OK, especially since he promised not to change the format no matter what, but then the analytics came and agreed to go over. while overall, I think that Simon and his shyness, or Anna posted it, but I feel that there is some thing that Annette feels not quite right with him and Devon And I’m very sorry for my bad spelling here I am blind and using text tov

[@agabrielhegartygaby9203]

The attitude towards reparations by the US is shameful: the failure to obtain the informed consent of the islanders PRIOR to rendering their home uninhabitable, their culture disrupted and displaced not to mention medical consequences from illness, death and abnormal births: [during my medical training we were shown films made expressly for doctors only - the 'jellyfish' abnormality' is still memorable]. The US went in there took their land destroyed their health and culture and threw them away like so much garbage when we were done. Not our finest hour...

[@MFitz12]

Bikini Atoll. Home of Godzilla

[@grounded_up_sage]

"Why'd the people have to go? Cuz the US set a bomb to explode. They took paradise, And blew it f-cking up!" -Sung to the tune of 'Big Yellow Taxi'

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

Humanity suffers for the sake of US companies' beneficiaries

[@tonymarcella9446]

15th like at 4 mins, hell yae, and first comment

[@dwaynefoley1020]

Why did you change the thumbnail? Shouldn’t it now read “no longer habitable”, not “inhabitable”? Or was it just changed to be incorrect for clickbait 🤔

[@kontiuka]

Funny how habitable and inhabitable mean the same thing.

[@johnchedsey1306]

Just for the record, those "ai depictions" look terrible. Please don't use those anymore.

[@scipio7]

The graphics of Simon's face and his swole biceps are amazing. You've taken it to a new level.

[@BaronVonQuiply]

♫ Whoooooo lives in a pineapp...... did the ocean just boil?

[@MikeHughey728]

Wait, it's over already? Man, I was spoiled by those 40-plus minute deep dives when this channel started. This feels shallow and incomplete by comparison.

[@catmunkyafzainizam5137]

Birth place of Godzilla.

[@ellhullio26]

How about site were russia tested their szar bomba, largest nuclear bomb ever made. I have read that russia made No Attempt at all to evacuate people living there...

[@carbondioxide830]

wth simon? i thought you was a throat goat smh

[@geoffreyrichardson8738]

Oh you can live there, if you ware protective clothing and don’t eat ANYTHING from the immediate area and your genetics are not prone to genetic mutation.

[@DizzybyNature]

bikini could have been taken with a sub and battleship.. americans should never have died when a simple blockade would sufficed.. but since ships were expensive & lives are cheap, even America solves its issues with meat wave tactics..

[@jaytaylor629]

USA should have done their testing in Florida.

[@SkunkApe407]

You do realize that would have caused fallout to rain down on the entire eastern seaboard and most of everything east of the Rockies, right? This is why Reddit brained goons don't make the big brain decisions.

[@jaytaylor629]

@@SkunkApe407 Bro I'm joking, lighten up a little.

[@SkunkApe407]

@jaytaylor629 no, I won't lighten up. Every halfwit on the internet talks shit about Florida, when there are far more fucked up states. California? Yeah, where to start? Wisconsin? Has produced more serial killers than any other state? And how dare you make jokes about Florida, when fucking Ohio exists?

[@Jason9612]

You guys need to stop with the side cut. It is just an awkward look.

[@Erebusdidnothingwrongish]

Hmmmm I wonder if all the suns being created by America uk and Russia could have helped cause some global warming?

[@1Thomkro]

Amd France, N Korea, China, South Africa, Iran, India and Pakistan of course...

[@markhodge7]

You gotta love humans...not!

[@rtyrsson]

"Moreover an independent international tribunal... order the US..." The United States, being a sovereign nation, takes orders from no one. Neither should any other sovereign nation take orders from others. Treaties are mutual agreements, "orders" are not.

[@shinkicker404]

The USA is happy to order other nations around though.

[@thestevenjaywaymusic7775]

Once again, America does whatever they like. And Trump is going to make sure, the rich men do whatever they like. What sort of world do we live in?

[@dartdude4084]

Oh go away

[@charlesbryson7443]

lol, npc

[@rebornscannon2789]

In the words of Jim Carrey in Sonic 1 "NOBODY CARES!"

[@MrGalactica75]

TDR

[@RochelleLang]

TDSS

[@jeremiahlyleseditor437]

Made no sense. Why didn't the Gov plant on the Island they were on 500+ miles away instead of Bikini?

[@volvo145]

Is this some kind of discount eurographics channel? Did Simon and Devon had a fall out over something since Simon is no longer on top tens either he’s only on today I found out what’s going on? is Simon being greedy? I’m pulling out since top downstairs and geography fix it and biographics have loved to use. I mean today I found out that’s not good either. Is he greedy or watt? I would imagine Simon having some steaks in those channels since he has fostered him for so long. And to be completely honest, I feel that Simon is a person that prioritizes money over loyalty and that’s not a good personality trait he talked about his little cottage squishy, which is probably rather large and he has built a new house. The idiot the Czech Republic has so many beautiful buildings that he could’ve bought. and Asa already then I’ll check Billings. Will probably survive the monstrosity that Simon has built. I like Simon, but this side of his personality I asked, cannot forgive like you said that it would never ever change the business place/brain blaze system thing with them in writing, long interest, etc. but then he gave them a threshing in a video complaining about it, and stating that his Anneli text shows that the more review worth in your videos with shorter intros, but what the fuck can you please play be principal and Danny is the soul of brain blaze? when there is a tiny video, I know I am in for a treat. Kevin and Dave right totally OK no shame on them but Danny is just quiet. Amazing. I like those that Danny has branched out and right for casual criminalist and decoding the unknown as well. He’s very talented and I hope Simon pays him very very well and doesn’t break any more promises. I hope you got a lot of backlash for treating Benny like that in public. I feel her down there with your time and has gone out with his full name and town of restaurants should have gotten at least 50,000 pounds for the thing that Simon did that was just not OK

[@Chris-hx3om]

Typical usa, not taking responsibility for their mess. Again.

[@_ginock_]

Trump; visa free access you say? We’ll see about that!

[@MrGalactica75]

TDR

[@RochelleLang]

@@MrGalactica75TDSS

[@timothyclark-sl4il]

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?

[@sackvillebag]

Spung bob square pants

[@thedude3620]

We'll say were broke and dont have the money to pay reparations to the Bikini Atoll people and their land and We'll dodge that bill for eternity but Ukraine barely opens its legs and lets us have a peek and suddenly were not too broke and make it rain 100Billion to let us see that Thang shake 😂

[@olpuddinsock]

Please stop using AI images.

[@domenstrmsek5625]

Oooooooooooooo

[@Gloocar]

I absolutely HATE that you use AI Depictions of historical photos... Just show your face or a blank screen with text. That's more enjoyable. I am stopping watching at 2 minutes because of this. I love your videos but will not consume AI Depictions.

[@stevenbrogdon3074]

Simon peering out of an old TV. That’s quite queer!

[@markbond7138]

And this is how we got sponge bob. Lol

[@lucwedgeworth4024]

comment

[@KatjaChristine327]

You are now in leaving Bikini Bottom

[@therealbettyswollocks]

No mention of SpongeBob?

[@keithmenzer6454]

No ai…..unsubscribing

[@Starman.2112]

Been watching these channels for years, but I grow tired of the seething millennial writers sitting at their keyboards whining about what nations had to do 75 years ago to fight and keeps the freedom you and your ancestors have had for the past 75 years. Ya, it was a biotcha.... but war is so.

[@mrtokerarchvile8252]

U KNOW WE ARE THE CRAZY…. i’m sure you have to convince someone to be able to debate one of these. That’s pretty crazy.,… knowing what a nuclear bomb does and if capability but keep on doing it expecting for better results. That’s pretty crazy….. what we know what radiation does and tell group of people it’s OK to live here which used to be your home or we upgraded it by everything glow in dark that’s pretty crazy too..