Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, January 11, 2024
Posted: 11th January 2024
A Ukrainian military soldier with a quadcopter control panel. Image by dvoinik via Adobe Stock.
STEVEN FELDSTEIN
AI in war: Can advanced military technologies be tamed before it’s too late?
There is an urgency for countries to agree on common rules about the development, deployment, and use of emerging military tech in war. Read more.
ZACHARY KALLENBORN
Why a nuclear weapons ban would threaten, not save, humanity
Global governments and organizations aiming to reduce existential risks should support nuclear risk-reduction measures but oppose quick, complete abolition of nuclear weapons, writes one national security expert. Read more.
NINA LAKHANI
Measuring the carbon ‘boot print’ of Israel’s war in Gaza
The planet-warming emissions generated during the first two months of the war in Gaza were greater than the annual carbon footprint of more than 20 of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, new research reveals. Read more.
ZOYA TEIRSTEIN
Climate change fueled a rise in rare disease outbreaks last year
Due to the influences of climate change, the geographic distribution of pathogens and the timing of their emergence are undergoing a shift. Read more.
DOOMSDAY CLOCK
Bill Nye joins the 2024 Doomsday Clock announcement
The Doomsday Clock announcement will be on January 23rd at 10 am ET. Speakers will include science educator Bill Nye. Learn more here.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“My family is among the thousands sickened by radiation exposure – my father, a Navajo code talker, recently died of stomach cancer. Now my sister has bladder cancer. We need to protect and strengthen the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to help the people who have been hurt by the creation of nuclear weapons.”
—Maggie Billiman, a member of the Navajo Nation in Sawmill, Arizona
This month for the quote section of our newsletter, we’re asking you to send us your suggestions for “What can YOU do to turn back the clock?”—something we can all do to tackle existential threats today.
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