It was just supposed to be a regular safety test... but in the early morning hours of April 26th, 1986, something went terribly wrong...

For those opposed to nuclear energy, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident was the nightmare scenario. But it took a while for the rest of the world to even find out.

By the time they did, the effects of the explosion had spread shockingly far--and fast. Today we look back on the accident that was a disaster in the making, all the fallout, and how the Soviets downplayed it. And as bad as Chernobly was--could it have been even worse...?

• Get access to new episodes early and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s