Top Ten Reasons Why Nuclear Weapons Are a Bigger Threat Now Than Ever

This video just scratches the surface on what we believe are ten of the biggest concerns today regarding nuclear weapons. If you are new to the nuke discussion and would like to learn more about these threats we invite you to explore the resources provided below.

1. Global proliferation

• 1. The CFR explains the history of nonproliferation and provides options for strengthening the nonproliferation regime.
  2. The Nuclear Threat Initiative walks through the details of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons providing a quiz to test your knowledge.

2. Bigger bombs

• 1. Alex Wellerstein’s NUKEMAP allows you to pinpoint any location and see the devastating impact today’s nuclear weapons can have
  2. This video compares the size of early nuclear weapons to the ones that make up stockpiles today.

3. New nuclear arms race

• 1. The Federation of American Scientists breaks down the current nuclear stockpiles.
  2. Explore how the Russian invasion in Ukraine has the potential to influence a new nuclear arms race.

4. Cyber threats

• 1. NTI Report on Nuclear Weapons in the New Cyber Age unsure if this link is accessible https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/resrep19983.6.pdf
  2. The Nuclear Threat Initiative has followed this issue closely and has articles that explain the growing concerns.

5. Collapse of arms control

• 1. The Carnegie Endowment explains why arms control has been in decline.
  2. If you are looking for more of a historical context the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists chronicles the rise and fall of arms control.

6. Nuclear winter

• 1. Carl Sagan warned us about the dangers of nuclear winter and the Smithsonian Magazine covers his report.
  2. If you’re looking for another YouTube rabbit hole the New York Times gets into the threat of nuclear winter.

7. The threat of nuclear terrorism

• 1. Carnegie covers the real concerns regarding nuclear security and the threat of nuclear terrorism.
  2. If you are looking for more stories on loose nuclear material listen to Episode 5 of ATB to hear about Project Sapphire.
  3. For quick answers to your nuclear terrorism questions check out the FAQ page from the Harvard Kennedy School.

8. Dual-use missiles

• 1. This Atlantic Council brief explains the challenges of combining conventional technology with nuclear weapons.
  2. Want to learn how this technology came to be? Get more information from the Carnegie endowment .

9. Tactical nuclear weapons

• 1. Here we have a video with a more in-depth explanation of tactical nuclear weapons.
  2. Want to read up on tactical nuclear weapons? NTI provides an explanation for what these weapons are and what a future shaped by them might look like.
  3. To explore a real-world scenario where these weapons could be used, The New York Times covers the implications tactical nuclear weapons could have in Ukraine.
  4. And of course check out our video on tactical nukes, and the tactical nuke resource page on this website.

10. Nuclear weapons in space

• 1. Want to learn about the first nuclear explosion in space? Watch Science Insider’s explanation of the Starfish Prime nuclear test.
  2. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization provides more information on the Starfish Prime test and declassified footage.