What looks like the inspiration for the classic NES game Metroid is actually the beginning of one of the most powerful technologies known to man. Taken a millisecond after detonation, this image was captured in 1952 during the Tumbler-Snapper nuclear tests that took place in the deserts of Nevada. Using a rapatronic camera, scientists were able to capture the rapidly expanding fireball during its genesis when it was 20 meters in diameter. Even at this early stage of detonation the area in and around ground zero was three times hotter than the sun.