Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, December 28, 2023
Posted: 28th December 2023
“What Barbie can teach us about nuclear weapons” is featured as one of the best Voices of Tomorrow entries of 2023. Photos courtesy of Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures (Oppenheimer) and Warner Bros. (Barbie)
DAWN STOVER
Best of 2023: Fresh takes from ‘Voices of Tomorrow’
The Bulletin’s “Voices of Tomorrow” feature showcases youth perspectives on existential threats. This year, rising experts’ entries were heavily focused on nuclear weapons, which seem to be a pressing issue in the minds of more and more young people. Read more.
JESSICA MCKENZIE
The six best climate stories of 2023
From rural Pakistan, to the fjords of Chile, to a glittering volcanic lake outside of Rome, the Bulletin’s climate coverage this year was truly global. Read more.
FRANÇOIS DIAZ-MAURIN
The nuclear year in review: A renewed interest in nuclear weapons—for and against
The Bulletin’s nuclear risk editor shares six stories that covered some of the most monumental developments in 2023, a year that was marked by renewed interests in nuclear weapons as countries looked for ways to ensure their security amid rising global tensions. Read more.
Residents are evacuated at a US Naval Base in 2013, because of a fast-growing wildfire.
MATT FIELD
A new study reports 309 lab acquired infections and 16 pathogen lab escapes between 2000 and 2021
An international team of researchers looked for all the cases of laboratory acquired infections or times pathogens accidentally “escaped” from a lab. They found 309 laboratory-acquired or -associated infections from 51 pathogens; eight of these cases were fatal, including one of “mad cow” disease. Read more.
SPECIAL TOPICS
Participate in the Bulletin’s Next Generation Initiative
In 2024, the Bulletin invites rising experts to submit to our Voices of Tomorrow feature. Submissions can be essays, opinion pieces, or multimedia presentations addressing at least one of the Bulletin’s core issues: nuclear risk, climate change, and threats from disruptive technologies. Read more.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The year 2023 was a record year for disease elimination, with several countries eliminating infectious diseases thanks to dedicated national efforts, and collaborative action by countries and health partners worldwide.”
— The World Health Organization, “Global health achievements 2023,” WHO
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