Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, June 19, 2023
Posted: 19th June 2023
June 19, 2023
NUCLEAR RISK
Daniel Ellsberg’s message to us, and to future generations
Daniel Ellsberg, leaker of the Pentagon Papers and activist on the dangers of nuclear weapons, spoke with Martin Hellman about what he’d like to say to us and to future generations upon his death. He passed on June 16. Read more.
DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
Orbital hypersonic delivery systems threaten strategic stability
Although hypersonic glide vehicles can travel at five to 25 times the speed of sound, they do not pose a significant risk to strategic stability. But when they are paired with fractional orbital bombardment systems, they become far more dangerous, says rising disruptive technologies expert Ritwik Gupta. Read more.
NUCLEAR RISK
Queering nuclear weapons: How LGBTQ+ inclusion strengthens security and reshapes disarmamentDiscrimination against queer people can undermine nuclear security and increase nuclear risk, write rising nuclear experts Louis Reitmann and Sneha Nair. “Using queer theory can help change how experts and the public think about nuclear weapons.” Read more.
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CLIMATE CHANGE
Dam explosion in Ukraine unleashes ‘ecological disaster’
Following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, toxic floodwaters have inundated towns and farmland, killing thousands of animals and more than a dozen people. Read more.
DOOMSDAY CLOCK
Discover the history behind the Doomsday Clock
The Doomsday Clock at 75 explores the powerful symbol of the Clock and how it has shaped discussions and strategies around existential threats. Order today.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Global temperatures have accelerated to record-setting levels this month, an ominous sign in the climate crisis ahead of a gathering El Niño that could potentially propel 2023 to become the hottest year ever recorded.”
— Environment reporter Oliver Milman, “Fears of hottest year on record as global temperatures spike”, The Guardian
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