[tuxie_]

Scientists didn't need to build a bomb, detonate it, and wait years to know that. Politicians just decided to ignore it because they thought that the economical gain for themselves outweighed the human costs for other countries. AKA Imperialism.

[ch4s3]

No, scientists like Edward Teller were pushing for Plowshare, it wasn't driven by politicians except the head of the AEC Lewis Strauss. They seriously thought they could do large scale engineering this way without much fallout, but couldn't make it work in practice.