Jughead Nuclear Bomb

Lore & Background

The episode states that 'Jughead' was the name of an actual Mark 16 nuclear bomb scheduled for detonation in the Castle Yankee series of tests in 1954. In the show's timeline, Daniel Faraday and Ellie discover the device is leaking radiation on the island in 1954. Faraday advises that the bomb should be buried and will not go off for at least 50 years.

In Their Own Story

In 1954, the freighter team consisting of Miles Straume, Charlotte Lewis, and Daniel Faraday are captured by a group of Others led by Ellie. Faraday deduces the American military came to test hydrogen bombs. He convinces Alpert to let him defuse the bomb, confessing his love for Charlotte as proof he will not detonate it on purpose. After inspecting the device (the titular Jughead), Faraday discovers it is leaking radiation and advises Ellie that it should be buried.

Reader's Guide

Jughead is identified in the episode as a Mark 16 nuclear bomb from the Castle Yankee series of tests scheduled for 1954. The tower where the bomb hangs is based on designs from the Manhattan Project. In the narrative, Daniel Faraday determines the device is leaking radiation and instructs that it be buried to prevent detonation for at least 50 years.

Did You Know?

• The name 'Jughead' refers to an actual Mark 16 nuclear bomb that was never detonated in the South Pacific.
• The actual Jughead bomb was scheduled to be detonated during the Castle Yankee series of tests in 1954.
• The tower where the bomb is hanging in the episode was based on designs from the Manhattan Project.
• In the show, Daniel Faraday advises that the leaking bomb will not go off for at least 50 years.