Most recent 40 articles: Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons
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Ask a Scientist: Calling Out the Hype Over Hypersonic Weapons - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Sep 17, 2021) |
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Sep 17, 2021 · China, Russia and the United States are now all rushing to develop a new type of missile that is purportedly faster, more accurate, more maneuverable, and stealthier than long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Called “hypersonic” missiles because they can reach velocities greater than five times the speed of sound - known as Mach 5 - they are at least six times faster than commercial airliners. Russia has already deployed at least one hypersonic missile, which is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. This has prompted quite a bit of handwringing in US military circles, and the Pentagon plans to spend billions of dollars on large-scale production of hypersonic ... Read more ... |
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Ask a Scientist: Iran and the Bomb: Some Factors to Consider - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (May 27, 2021) |
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May 27, 2021 · The Iranian government just announced that it has resumed enriching uranium up to 20 percent at its Fordo nuclear facility, potentially moving the country closer to being able to build a nuclear bomb. It was just the latest iteration of tit-for-tat provocations between the United States and Iran since President Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear agreement and reimposed severe economic sanctions. Under the terms of the nuclear deal, Tehran is allowed to enrich uranium to only 3.67 percent - well below the threshold needed for a nuclear device - and no enrichment is allowed at the Fordo plant. Edwin Lyman, the director of nuclear power safety at UCS, is an ... Read more ... |
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Should the President Have Sole Authority to Launch a Nuclear Attack? In the Age of Trump, Experts Offer an Alternate Plan - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (May 27, 2021) |
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May 27, 2021 · More than a million people in Hawaii thought it was time to say their final alohas. A state cellphone alert announced that nuclear missiles were heading their way. “Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii,” the January 6 text read. “Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.” Fortunately, it was a false alarm. It turned out that a Hawaii Emergency Management Agency employee had pushed the wrong button during an early morning shift-change safety drill. At a press conference later that day, Hawaii Gov. David Ige promised that no single person would be able to send such a warning again. The next day, the agency announced it now would require that two people issue an ... Read more ... |
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Will the Real State of the Union Please Stand Up? 7 Things President Trump Won’t Say - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (May 27, 2021) |
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May 27, 2021 · A great public servant and one of my mentors, William Ruckelshaus, always emphasized to me that the State of the Union was a time to put big ideas on the table, to talk about the truly great challenges facing the country, and to provide leadership for what we as a nation needed to do to live up to the ideals of our democracy. New education initiatives, cleaning up pollution, providing health care - these are some of the big ideas that previous presidents have talked about on this national stage. Call me crazy but I don’t think that is what we will hear from President Trump. Instead we’re likely to hear misdirection and falsehoods. According to the Washington Post, ... Read more ... |
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The Elections, and What They Mean for Climate, Energy, and Science - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (May 26, 2021) |
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May 26, 2021 · If you are like me, you arrived a bit blurry-eyed to the office this morning after staying up watching election results last night. You’ve undoubtedly already heard and read commentary on what this election means for the country, but may be wondering what the outcome means for climate, security, energy, and science policy. I sat down with my colleague, Alden Meyer, UCS Director of Strategy and Policy, and put our usual water-cooler deconstruction on paper. Alden: So the Democrats have taken control of the House, but the Republicans expanded their control of the Senate. What’s your take on the overall meaning of the election results? Did environmental issues have any ... Read more ... |
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A Pivotal Moment in US-Russian Arms Control - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (May 20, 2021) |
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May 20, 2021 · Nuclear weapons have plagued the international security environment since the first atomic weapon was successfully detonated at the Trinity test site in July 1945. Today, the situation has grown more complicated as arms control agreements and treaties are dismantled in an “America First” attitude adopted by the current administration. In the last four years, the United States has pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the Iran Nuclear Deal) and the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty. After multiple accusations by the US against Russia for non-compliance, the current administration has signaled its intention to exit the Open Skies Treaty this past May. ... Read more ... |
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Iran's Fordo underground uranium enrichment facility, located north of the city of Qom. - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Jan 06, 2021) |
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Jan 06, 2021 · The Iranian government just announced that it has resumed enriching uranium up to 20 percent at its Fordo nuclear facility, potentially moving the country closer to being able to build a nuclear bomb. It was just the latest iteration of tit-for-tat provocations between the United States and Iran since President Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear agreement and reimposed severe economic sanctions. Under the terms of the nuclear deal, Tehran is allowed to enrich uranium to only 3.67 percent - well below the threshold needed for a nuclear device - and no enrichment is allowed at the Fordo plant. Edwin Lyman, the director of nuclear power safety at UCS, is an ... Read more ... |
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Airman 1st Class Braydon Williams/US Air Force - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Aug 05, 2020) |
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Aug 05, 2020 · This week is the 75th anniversary of the US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the only time nuclear bombs have been used in a conflict - and one could only hope the last time. To commemorate the anniversary, I thought it would be appropriate to devote this column to taking a hard look at current US nuclear weapons policy, and to do that, I had a chat with our new Global Security Program Washington representative, Kevin Davis. Davis joined UCS fresh off of two cycles working on congressional and presidential campaigns. Prior to his electoral work, he spent a decade working on nuclear disarmament efforts, supporting passage of the New START arms control agreement, and promoting ... Read more ... |
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Ask an Expert: Congress Plans to Spend Billions on Dangerous, Unnecessary Nuclear Weapons - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Aug 05, 2020) |
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Aug 05, 2020 · This week is the 75th anniversary of the US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the only time nuclear bombs have been used in a conflict - and one could only hope the last time. To commemorate the anniversary, I thought it would be appropriate to devote this column to taking a hard look at current US nuclear weapons policy, and to do that, I had a chat with our new Global Security Program Washington representative, Kevin Davis. Davis joined UCS fresh off of two cycles working on congressional and presidential campaigns. Prior to his electoral work, he spent a decade working on nuclear disarmament efforts, supporting passage of the New START arms control agreement, and promoting ... Read more ... |
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A Pivotal Moment in US-Russian Arms Control - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Jul 17, 2020) |
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Jul 17, 2020 · Nuclear weapons have plagued the international security environment since the first atomic weapon was successfully detonated at the Trinity test site in July 1945. Today, the situation has grown more complicated as arms control agreements and treaties are dismantled in an “America First” attitude adopted by the current administration. In the last four years, the United States has pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the Iran Nuclear Deal) and the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty. After multiple accusations by the US against Russia for non-compliance, the current administration has signaled its intention to exit the Open Skies Treaty this past May. ... Read more ... |
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The Other Existential Threat: Nuclear Weapons & the 2020 Presidential Campaign - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Jul 03, 2019) |
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Jul 03, 2019 · The 2020 presidential campaign kicked off in earnest with last week’s Miami debates, and many of the “high profile” topics were covered: climate change, immigration, gun control. One topic was a little more unexpected: nuclear weapons. On the first night, three of the ten candidates on stage said nuclear weapons or the threat of nuclear war is the biggest geopolitical threat facing the United States. This should not be surprising: recent polling shows that in key primary states, including New Hampshire and Iowa, over 80% of respondents want to know what candidates think about nuclear weapons. We also know from recent national polling that more than 80% of people support arms ... Read more ... |
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50 Years of Science In Action - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Mar 04, 2019) |
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Mar 04, 2019 · Today is a very special day–the 50th anniversary of the Union of Concerned Scientists. As a proud leader of this great organization for five of these fifty years, I would like to share my reflections, which are excerpts from a 50th anniversary speech I gave a few weeks ago. Fifty years ago today–March 4, 1969–this organization was founded. This day marked an unprecedented political awakening in the scientific community. Richard Nixon had recently been sworn in as president. Military service was compulsory in the United States and nearly 500,000 American soldiers were deployed in Vietnam. The arms race was in full swing. The US government used hideous weapons ... Read more ... |
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Two Years in, and the State of Our Union Is Weakened - but It’ll Be Strong Again - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Feb 04, 2019) |
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Feb 04, 2019 · We are now midway through the Trump administration, and the state of our union - while far too fractured and polarized to be judged strong - has, at least, proven resilient. The key institutions we count on - a free media, an independent judiciary, vigorous NGOs, strong governors and state attorneys general, and opposition representatives in Congress - have, for the most part, held the line and stemmed the damage that might have been inflicted by the wrecking ball that is the Trump presidency. At the same time as our “old guard” institutions have held the line, a “new guard” is moving the line and changing the terms of the debate. People-powered activism is surging nationwide, ... Read more ... |
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New California Laws Address Climate Change - Some Bills Fall Short - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Oct 02, 2018) |
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Oct 02, 2018 · It’s Fall. That means crisp morning air, dwindling sunlight, and a chance to take stock of legislative victories and setbacks in California, as Governor Brown has now signed or vetoed the last of the bills sent to his desk this year. As always, the progress we make in Sacramento is not only improving Californians’ quality of life, but also keeping momentum going for other states and countries. Many of the gains we make in clean technologies, for example, are reducing costs and proving solutions at scale, charting a course from which others can learn. Governor Brown signed SB 100 into law on September 10, 2018. Adrienne Alvord, UCS Western States Director, is pictured ... Read more ... |
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Why the Senate Should Reject Pompeo as Secretary of State - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Mar 27, 2018) |
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Mar 27, 2018 · After ousting Rex Tillerson as secretary of state, Donald Trump has decided to replace him with Mike Pompeo, the current CIA director. Pompeo’s views on Iran and North Korea, and more generally his lack of diplomatic experience, make him a terrible choice for secretary of state - especially given the international challenges the United States is now facing. As former CIA Director Michael Hayden noted, “Secretary Tillerson was a counterweight to some of the instantaneous, spontaneous, instinctive decisions that the president was prone to make. And I think we’re going to miss the counterweight.” A key concern is Trump’s impulses on international affairs. He has ... Read more ... |
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There Are Better Things in France for Trump to Emulate Than a Military Parade - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Feb 22, 2018) |
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Feb 22, 2018 · President Trump was so impressed by the military parade he saw in Paris on Bastille Day last July that he ordered the Pentagon to plan a bigger one for Washington, D.C. “It was one of the greatest parades I’ve ever seen,” Trump told reporters when he met with French President Emmanuel Macron in New York in September for the opening of the UN General Assembly. “It was two hours on the button, and it was military might, and I think a tremendous thing for France and for the spirit of France. We’re going to have to try to top it.” Of course Trump wants to top it. All things Trump are always “huge,” from his inauguration day crowd to his nuclear button to his tax cut. But if ... Read more ... |
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Hyping US Missile Defense Capabilities Could Have Grave Consequences - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Nov 29, 2017) |
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Nov 29, 2017 · In response to North Korea’s latest ballistic missile test, which flew higher and farther than any of its previous launches, President Trump told Americans not to worry. “We will take care of it,” he said. “It is a situation that we will handle.” The big question is how. Unfortunately, Trump’s assertion may rest on his unwarranted confidence in the US missile defense system. During a recent interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity about the threat posed by a potential North Korean nuclear strike, he declared that the United States has “missiles that can knock out a missile in the air 97 percent of the time.” The facts, however, tell a different story. The reality ... Read more ... |
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We Visualized the US Nuclear Arsenal. It’s Not Pretty. - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Sep 15, 2017) |
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Sep 15, 2017 · International security experts often refer to the twin goals of military policy: to minimize the risk of war and to minimize the damage should war start. Because nuclear weapons are so destructive, the goal must be to eliminate - and not just minimize - the risk of nuclear war, which will require eliminating nuclear weapons. Until then, it is essential that nations with nuclear weapons minimize both the risk and consequences of a nuclear war. The consequences are directly related to the numbers of weapons used - which is limited by the number of weapons a nation has. Depending on the targets, the use of even a small number of weapons can result in horrific ... Read more ... |
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We’ve Said It, the Post Says It, Now SciAm Too: Take Weapons Off Alert - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Mar 15, 2017) |
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Mar 15, 2017 · In the March 2017 issue of Scientific American, the editorial board calls for the United States to take its nuclear missiles off hair-trigger alert as a way to reduce the risk of mistaken or accidental launch of nuclear weapons. Minuteman launch officers in an underground command center (Source: US Air Force) It joins the editorial boards of the New York Times and Washington Post, among others, in supporting this step. Both the United States and Russia keep about 900 nuclear weapons on hair-trigger alert, ready to be launched in minutes. If satellites and radars send warning of an incoming attack, the goal is to be able to launch their missiles quickly - before the ... Read more ... |
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What’s the Skinny on President Trump’s Skinny Budget? All Bark, No Bite - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Mar 14, 2017) |
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Mar 14, 2017 · It’s alarming to read headlines like: “EPA budget may be cut by 25% under Trump;” “DOE targeted for massive cuts in Trump draft budget;” “White House proposes steep cut to leading climate science agency;”and “Trump wants 37% cut to State, USAID.” But if you find yourself getting swept up in the hysteria, just remember that the president doesn’t rule by fiat; he’s president, not emperor. There is certainly reason for concern about the vulnerability of specific federal programs and line items to spending cuts. People who care about science and research, public health, innovation and clean energy, international diplomacy, extreme weather and climate change need to be vigilant in ... Read more ... |
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UCS Founder Kurt Gottfried Wins AAAS Award - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Feb 14, 2017) |
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Feb 14, 2017 · Kurt Gottfried, a founder of UCS in 1969 and a guiding spirit and intellect since then, has won the prestigious 2017 Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Award given by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award, which recognizes Kurt’s lifetime of dedication and achievements. AAAS said it is to recognize Kurt’s “long and distinguished career as a 'civic scientist,’ through his advocacy for arms control, human rights, and integrity in the use of science in public policy making.” Kurt receiving this award ... Read more ... |
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No President Should Have Absolute Authority to Launch Nuclear Weapons - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Jan 17, 2017) |
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Jan 17, 2017 · After Donald Trump takes the oath of office later this week, he will be given the codes that allow him to order the launch of nuclear weapons. At that point, Mr. Trump will inherit a deeply flawed system: one that gives sole and absolute authority to the president to launch US nuclear weapons - and that can put extreme time pressure on him to make that decision. Minunteman III missile (Source: Dept. of Defense) One of the narratives that arose during the presidential campaign was that a Trump finger on the nuclear button would increase the risk of nuclear war because he is seen as impulsive and unpredictable. Whatever the merits of those arguments, the public ... Read more ... |
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Scientists’ Letter to Trump Supporting Iran Nuclear Deal - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Jan 03, 2017) |
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Jan 03, 2017 · Donald Trump has made conflicting statements about how he views the Iranian nuclear deal and what he plans to do about it once he takes office. But the deal has now been in effect for a year and experience shows the agreement is working - and that it would be foolish to discard or undermine it. I’m one of 37 scientists who signed a letter delivered to Mr. Trump’s team yesterday explaining the successes of the deal and the value of keeping it. The letter was organized by a group of scientists, including Richard Garwin, who was recently awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Sig Hecker, former director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory - one of the two US labs that ... Read more ... |
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Last Call! Obama’s Final Actions on Nuclear Weapons - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Dec 20, 2016) |
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Dec 20, 2016 · At the beginning of his presidency, President Obama gave a soaring speech in Prague, promising that the US will “put an end to Cold War thinking” and “reduce the role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy.” His record so far has been somewhat mediocre - but it’s not too late to make a little more progress. Obama could reduce the hedge stockpile of weapons the US keeps in storage, and the amount of highly-enriched uranium and plutonium that the US keeps in case it wants to build even more weapons. It’s surprising that he hasn’t already taken these incremental steps. But their incremental nature also means that the Trump administration is unlikely to ... Read more ... |
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Trump’s Picks for Defense: What We Know About Mattis and Flynn - Union of Concerned Scientists - Nuclear Weapons  (Dec 14, 2016) |
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Dec 14, 2016 · Donald Trump has picked James Mattis as his secretary of defense and Michael Flynn as his national security advisor. What do we know about these two men? While they are both retired generals (Marine Corps and Army, respectively) with experience in the Middle East and Afghanistan, they are otherwise very different. The bottom line: Mattis appears qualified for the job; Flynn does not. Based on his public statements, Mattis has strongly held opinions but recognizes the value of listening to contrary views and rethinking those opinions. In a speech last year he talked about the importance of “mavericks” who are willing to ask questions that “make you uncomfortable,” and of ... Read more ... |
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