Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, October 9, 2023
Posted: 9th October 2023
Severe basement flooding in 2021 left toxic black mold in Wilma Price’s home in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood. To remediate the mold, parts of the walls were ripped out. Photo: Jena Brooker
CLIMATE CHANGE
Extreme rain is turning homes into havens for toxic mold
As fossil fuel pollution traps heat, flooding is intensifying and exacerbating health hazards as flooded streets and basements foster mold and release pathogens from raw sewage. Read more.
NUCLEAR RISK
Nuclear power: Why the divide in expert views?
There is a sharp divide in expert opinions about the future role of nuclear power. A guided conversation among six experts shows that disagreements are based on speculation about future trends, rather than facts. Read more.
DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
Climate or conflict? Legionnaire’s outbreak in Poland raises questions
Legionnaire’s disease isn’t particularly rare, but this summer an outbreak of the infection came with a startling statistic—two years’ worth of infections and deaths in just three weeks. It also happened to occur in a curious location: a key hub for the Western effort to aide Ukraine in the war. Read more.
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IN THE NEWS
UN committee is reminded the Doomsday Clock stands at 90 seconds to midnight
As the United Nations First Committee continued its general debate on Tuesday, it was reminded that “the Doomsday Clock now stands at 90 seconds to midnight—the closest to global catastrophe it has ever been, with nuclear threats at an alarming new level.” Read more.
SPONSORED
Stanford Faculty Appointment — International Security Policy
Seeking expert in nuclear security, arms control, nuclear energy, nuclear terrorism, national security law or international humanitarian law as related to nuclear issues, or related topics. For appointment as tenured faculty. Learn more.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The provisional findings of our investigation suggest a worrying failure by Snap [the parent of Snapchat] to adequately identify and assess the privacy risks to children and other users before launching My AI.”
— John Edwards, information commissioner, “UK data watchdog issues Snapchat enforcement notice over AI chatbot,” The Guardian
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