Oftentimes, it isn't what a writer says, it's what he or she makes you think about that's interesting. Take Gregg Easterbrook's toss-away comment in his Wired article, "We're All Going to Die:"

The fear that scientists tinkering with the elementary components of matter might unleash disaster has a rich and distinguished history. Before the detonation of the first atomic bomb at Trinity Site in 1945, Robert Oppenheimer worried that the unprecedented heat might spark a fusion chain reaction in the atmosphere. Physicist Hans Bethe performed calculations proving the planet wouldn't ignite, and the test went ahead.

Imagine if Bethe had calculated incorrectly and concluded the world would, indeed, burn away its atmosphere. Or if he'd calculated correctly and knew it wouldn't burn up -- but for moral reasons decided to lie and say it would, if only to spare the world from the Atomic Age?

I'm willing to bet that even if either of those things had happened, sooner or later the military would have tested the bomb. It's not in man's nature to NOT open Pandora's Box.

And think about this. What if Bethe had correctly calculated that the atmosphere would fry away, and reported as much to the military hierarchy? How much would you bet me that they military wouldn't have tried it out, anyway?