Colloquium Abstract A nuclear war could inject so much smoke from the resulting fires into the stratosphere that the resulting climate change would be unprecedented in recorded human history. Our climate model simulations find that the smoke would absorb sunlight, making it dark, cold, and dry at Earth’s surface and produce global-scale ozone depletion, with enhanced […]
Colloquium Abstract The first nuclear weapon was tested in Alamogordo, NM, in July 1945. In the following month, Hiroshima and Nagasaki were destroyed through the explosion of two nuclear warheads. These horrifying strikes directly led to the surrender of Japan almost 4 years after its attack on Pearl Harbor. An industrial scale effort with more than […]
Colloquium Abstract While nuclear weapons might sound like Cold War relics, in truth the immense risks they pose to all humanity are still very much with us. In fact, trends indicate the risks may be growing with the abandonment of arms control agreements and the development of new types of strategic weapons. Physicists have historically […]
Colloquium Abstract With geopolitical and technological changes driven by the nine nuclear weapons states, we are witnessing a new nuclear arms race and deterioration of the multi-decade arms control regime. This talk will overview basic information on nuclear arms, the current critical situation, feasible steps to reduce the nuclear threat, and a new project to engage […]
Colloquium Abstract With geopolitical and technological changes driven by the nine nuclear weapons states, we are witnessing a new nuclear arms race and deterioration of the multi-decade arms control regime. This talk will overview basic information on nuclear arms, the current critical situation, feasible steps to reduce the nuclear threat, and a new project initiated by […]
Colloquium Abstract A nuclear war could inject so much smoke from the resulting fires into the stratosphere that the resulting climate change would be unprecedented in recorded human history. Our climate model simulations find that the smoke would absorb sunlight, making it dark, cold, and dry at Earth’s surface and produce global-scale ozone depletion, with enhanced […]
Colloquium Abstract With the end of the Cold War, the public, activists and our government thought the danger from nuclear weapons was on a glide path to zero and those concerned about existential threats turned to other issues, notably global warming. Unfortunately, we were wrong. Russia has made nuclear threats to keep NATO from intervening against […]
On March 29, at 10:30 AM EDT, the Physicists Coalition for Nuclear Threat Reduction hosted a virtual training session to discuss tools and skills for advocacy effective engagement with members of Congress. This session included remarks by the panelists (recording below), followed by an open discussion between the Coalition's experts and members. Panelists: Denise Duffield (The Back from […]
Colloquium Abstract Eighty years ago, physicists first worked out what it would take to build a simple nuclear weapon and the immediate effects of its use. Five years later, theory and experiment became devastating facts as the United States built, tested, and then used the first nuclear weapons to destroy cities. Today, there are nine […]
This webinar discusses highlights of the U.S. budget for nuclear weapons for fiscal year 2024, in particular the possibility of additional funds for new nuclear weapon systems including nuclear-capable sea-launched cruise missiles. The speakers include - Shannon Bugos, Senior Policy Analyst, The Arms Control Association - Hans Kristensen, Director, Nuclear Information Project, Federation of […]
The film Oppenheimer, which opened in theaters in July, tells the story of American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer who led the team that built the first atomic bomb, and later worked to curb the nuclear arms race. The scientific community has played a critical role in highlighting the dangers of nuclear weapons and their […]
Abstract The United States, Russia, and China are engaged in the early phases of a new nuclear arms race and Russia and NATO are engaged in a nuclear-tinged war in Ukraine. With the recent shredding of arms-control agreements, the arms races may proceed unfettered and could lead to unprecedented dangers to humanity. On the other […]
