KURCHATOV, KAZAKHSTAN, JANUARY 6 A woman at a Russian Orthodox church in Kurchatov rings bells for Christmas Eve services Jan. 6, 2009. Kurchatov was was once the epicenter of Soviet nuclear weapons research and development during the cold war, housing scientists and nuclear technicians. Over 400 nuclear weapons were detonated in the nuclear polygon nearby, irradiating over a million people living in the area.