In the 1960s, amid rising tensions in the Middle East and the closure of the Suez Canal, the U.S. government considered a radical proposal to use nuclear explosives to create a new canal in Panama. This idea was part of Project Plowshare, which aimed to harness nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, including large-scale construction projects. The proposal, which envisioned detonating 294 nuclear explosives to excavate a new waterway, was motivated by the need for a more efficient route for oil transport. However, the project faced significant hurdles, including the need to evacuate about 30,000 people, many of whom were Indigenous. Environmental concerns, particularly the potential for ecological disruption, along with political complexities stemming from the Vietnam War, ultimately led to the abandonment of the project in the early 1970s. The recent mention of this historical proposal by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has reignited discussions about the feasibility and ethics of using nuclear technology for infrastructure development, highlighting how ideas once deemed sensible can later appear misguided.