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Fear and Loathing in Moscow: The Russian biological weapons program in 2022

By Robert PetersenOctober 5, 2022 On February 24, Russia launched a war of conquest against Ukraine after it had already illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 and waged war for eight years in the Donbas. The invasion was widely condemned, including by the United Nations General Assembly, with 141 states voting in favor of a resolution … Continued
White House covid-19 coronavirus fail

How to ignore the CDC’s new coronavirus guidelines, in six official White House photos

The CDC is recommending ways to avoid the airborne spread of COVID-19. Here’s a satirical guide to the new guidance.
image of Trump overlaid with coronavirus photo

A contact-tracing nightmare: When did the president catch the coronavirus, and who might he have given it to?

When did the president catch the virus, and who could he have given it to?

European biosecurity efforts fall short

The European Commission is on the right path among government institutions in putting issues of biosecurity and biosafety on the public agenda, yet even their efforts demonstrate how far governments have to go.
A biosafety level 4 lab.

The Bulletin brings top researchers to Geneva to talk biosecurity and pathogen research

The Bulletin is hosting a conference of top virologists and biological experts in Geneva, Switzerland, this week. The Pathogens Project will examine ways to ensure pathogen research is conducted as safely as possible.

Halloween advice: Prepare for the zombie apocalypse

Halloween advice: Prepare for the zombie apocalypse By A key feature of most zombie fiction is how unexpected the flesh-eating onslaught always is. Communities are caught completely off-guard, and leaders generally find themselves unprepared for the emergency. Society collapses, and the world struggles to learn how to survive in the new reality. But does the … Continued

Black swans from Mars? The real risks of sending alien samples home

NASA and the European Space Agency are planning to retrieve rocks and dust from the Mars for study on Earth. The agencies don’t think the samples will contain anything that’s alive. But nobody can put the potential risk of Mars samples at zero.

Sudan’s conflict escalates, endangering millions

By | With war crimes rampant throughout the country and little hope for a resolution in sight, the two warlords that have been fighting for national control of Sudan since April show no signs of stopping. Sudan is already one of the most vulnerable and least prepared nations in the world to respond to the … Continued

How vaccine “truthers” infect our minds

By | Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Erik English / Getty Images) In March 2021, the Center for Countering Digital Hate released a report on “The Disinformation Dozen,” the 12 anti-vaxxers it claims are responsible for nearly two-thirds of all anti-vaccine content on social media. One of those identified is currently a candidate for the Democratic … Continued

El Niño increases global health threats that require a One Health response

By | Weekly sea surface temperature patterns in the tropical Pacific. Animation of maps of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean compared to the long-term average over five-day periods from the end of January to early June 2023. The waters in the key monitoring region, which scientists call “the Niño-3.4 region,” start out cooler … Continued

Strange animal-nuclear tales

How do animals such as elephants, mosquitos, and chickens view nuclear technologies? In these strange-but-true tales, you’ll encounter crocodiles who warm themselves in water surrounding nuclear power plants, polar bears that boarded a nuclear submarine, and even lizards accused of serving as nuclear spies.

War and the environment: The disturbing and under-researched legacy of depleted uranium weapons

There has been a lack of research and education into the effects of depleted uranium munitions on post-conflict communities in Iraq and Syria, and cleanup efforts by both UN member countries and affected communities have failed.

Pandemic failure or convenient scapegoat: How did WHO get here?

Donald Trump wants to break up with WHO over its alleged bungling of the pandemic response. But since their origins 150 years ago, international health regimes have been a reflection of the nations that designed them. So when the United States accuses WHO, who is really to blame?

Virtual Program—Biological and chemical weapons security and the war in Ukraine

Watch the Bulletin virtual program “Biological and chemical weapons security and the war in Ukraine” featuring Asha George and Robert Pope in conversation with Matt Field.  These experts discussed topics like the role of US-supported biological labs in Ukraine, what Russia’s alleged use of poisons and chemical weapons in the past says about its intentions for use in the future, and how disinformation about the use of biological weapons in Ukraine weakens global security. Watch a recording of the program above to learn more.
US Capitol.

If 167 hearings didn’t prepare Congress for the COVID pandemic, what will?

A Georgetown University researcher counted all the times Congress held hearings on emerging infectious diseases between 1995 and 2019. Unfortunately, the 167 hearings Congress held didn't seem to prepare the United States to deal with COVID-19.

Hot zone in the heartland?

The new coronavirus has plunged us into an infectious-disease crisis. As we respond, the years-long debate over N.B.A.F. raises worrying questions about American biodefense policy. Will more bio-labs help us fight outbreaks? Or are we building too many labs in too many places?

Acting to educate life scientists

Anyone familiar with the history of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) will know that for years participants in BWC meetings have spoken about the importance of education in preventing the malevolent dual-use of biological technologies. Yet for all the bluster, the practical results regarding, for example, scientists' understanding of the convention and their obligations under it, have been limited.

Kids are drawing pictures of the new coronavirus. That’s a good thing.

One concrete reflection of how children are experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic can be seen in something they do all the time: draw pictures.

Building information resilience to reinforce arms control

Disinformation campaigns undermine arms control regimes and norms. Here are five ways to build information resilience and spread truthful information that prevents lies from taking root.

Six of 2017’s best columns

Our regular columnists tackle an eventful year.