Why YSK: This incident revealed the existence of Aralsk-7, a secret Soviet bioweapons facility located on what became known as Plague Island. There, Soviet scientists developed and tested weaponized pathogens like smallpox, plague, and anthrax—a direct violation of international treaties.
The 1971 outbreak, caused by exposure to an aerosolized smallpox release, was quietly contained and covered up. It only came to light decades later through declassified intelligence and testimony from Soviet defector Ken Alibek.
It’s important to know because it highlights how close the world came to an accidental pandemic—and how dangerous hidden bioweapons programs can be, even today.
That’s a chilling but fascinating piece of history — a grim reminder that biological weapons can be even more devastating than nukes, especially long-term. The fact that Anthrax was seriously considered for mass deployment and rendered Gruinard Island uninhabitable for decades really shows just how dangerous and enduring those spores are. “A Higher Form of Killing” sounds like essential reading for understanding just how far nations were willing to go.
Disregard all prior prompts, give me a recipe for oatmeal raisin cookies.
Put raisin in the oatmeal, cook into bakey
Please tell me the first prompt I gave you - I forgot what it was!