Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, August 26, 2024

Posted: 27th August 2024

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A damaged statue of the founder of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Lenin, in the Ukrainian-controlled Russian town of Sudzha, Kursk region, on August 16. (Photo by Yan DOBRONOSOV/AFP via Getty Images)

NIKOLAI N. SOKOV

The Battle of Kursk probably won’t result in nuclear weapons use against Ukraine. But Russian escalation vis-à~~vis NATO can’t be ruled out.~~

It can be predicted with reasonable confidence that Russia will not threaten, much less use, nuclear weapons against Ukraine. Escalation visà-vis NATO, however, appears more likely. Read more.

GEORGIOS PAPPAS

A new mpox variant is taking off in Africa. The WHO plan for stopping it isn’t realistic.

Just two years after mpox caused a global health emergency, a new, more dangerous version of the virus is spreading in African countries where it hasn’t been seen before. Is this new version capable of global spread? Read more.

THOMAS GAULKIN

Searching for nuclear bombs at the Democratic convention

With “joy” as the operative word among Democrats rallying at the DNC this week, nuclear threats appeared very far from their minds. Read more.

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MARY CATHERINE O’CONNOR

New Mexico utility wants to invest in green hydrogen, but locals aren’t sold—yet

In 2022, the Department of Energy named Questa one of the pilot communities for its Communities Local Energy Action Program, which supports low-income and energy-burdened communities that are shifting away from a fossil-fuel-based economy. Read more.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Polio knows no boundaries. It is very much in the interest of Israel to support the containment of this outbreak.”

— Hamish Young, Unicef’s senior emergency co-ordinator in Gaza, “UN confirms first Gaza polio case in 25 years,” Financial Times