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In 1945 the first nuclear bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. This one small bomb killed about 150,000 people within the first four months. The immediate impact was 60,000 deaths, the rest were as a result of radiation sickness.

A second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki nine days later and Japan surrendered, ending World War Two.

Since then, no power has used a nuclear bomb in war, though many tests have been carried out on them.

Arguments for nuclear weapons

• The possession of nuclear weapons has kept the major world powers from coming to war since 1955. This is due to fear of what might happen - the term that describes this is 'mutually assured destruction'.
• It is preferable for the major powers to have these bombs for deterrence than for an unstable dictator to use them in war.

Arguments against nuclear weapons

• Their destructive power is immense and long lasting. Even countries that have nothing to do with the war will be badly affected. Some people estimate that a small nuclear war could wipe out human life on Earth.
• They are very costly to develop and maintain. The money could be spent on raising everybody's quality of life.
• There is no effective protection against them, nor can people control who has access to them.

Which countries have nuclear weapons?