Coming 36 years after the world's first and fortunately only atomic bombings, this is likely to be the definitive scientific report. Prepared by a group of Japanese physicists, physicians and scientists, it examines not only the immediate damage caused by the bomb-wounds, fatalities and physical destruction-but the longer-term genetic, medical, social and psychological effects. In almost every respect the damages are apparently more serious and long-lasting than earlier studies had indicated. This is a chilling reminder of the effects of nuclear war, not lacking contemporary significance.