Introduction: Near-misses, close calls, and early warnings
There are many lessons that we still haven’t learned from the world's close calls and near-misses. But there’s reason for hope.
DIGITAL MAGAZINE
May 2023
DIGITAL MAGAZINE
May 2023
Cover by Thomas Gaulkin
Introduction: Near-misses, close calls, and early warnings
There are many lessons that we still haven’t learned from the world's close calls and near-misses. But there’s reason for hope.
Lessons learned in blood: Why we fail to use near-misses to prevent man-made disasters
Most man-made disasters are preceded by near-misses, where something goes awry but luck prevents things from going truly and irreparably wrong. Human beings and organizations can learn from these experiences and make the changes necessary to prevent future disasters—but often don't. Sometimes, there are basic psychological factors at work.
Interview with Susan Solomon: The healing of the ozone hole, and what else we can learn from atmospheric near-misses
The 1989 Montreal Protocol that banned chlorofluorocarbons is probably the best example of international cooperation to resolve a common problem.
Interview with Eric Schlosser: Why we can’t trust the government’s figures about nuclear close calls
The Pentagon’s list of accidents with US nuclear weapons, or "Broken Arrows," includes inaccuracies and is missing key events. Due to the looseness with which a Broken Arrow is defined, there may be hundreds more accidents.
Able Archer: How close of a call was it?
Did a NATO exercise in 1983 bring the superpowers close to blows?
Fukushima: Lessons learned from a devastating “near-miss”
Following the 2011 Fukushima disaster, Japan established a new nuclear regulatory commission and implemented new regulatory mechanisms. Twelve years later, where do things stand?
How to deal with an AI near-miss: Look to the skies
Those who work in AI could learn a lot from how near-misses are handled by the Aviation Safety Reporting System.
The future of technology: Lessons from China—and the US
The technological competition between the US and China has been portrayed as a simplistic battle between democracy and authoritarianism. The reality is that people everywhere—including in both these two countries—are all living in a digital world, where surveillance is ubiquitous and accountability for human rights abuses more challenging.
Nuclear Notebook: Russian nuclear weapons, 2023
Russia’s nuclear arsenal includes a stockpile of approximately 4,489 warheads with 1,674 strategic warheads deployed on ballistic missiles and at heavy bomber bases, while an approximate additional 999 strategic warheads—along with 1,816 nonstrategic warheads—are held in reserve. The Russian arsenal continues its broad modernization intended to replace most Soviet-era weapons by the late-2020s.
Lessons learned in blood: Why we fail to use near-misses to prevent man-made disasters
Most man-made disasters are preceded by near-misses, where something goes awry but luck prevents things from going truly and irreparably wrong. Human beings and organizations can learn from these experiences and make the changes necessary to prevent future disasters—but often don't. Sometimes, there are basic psychological factors at work.
Interview with Susan Solomon: The healing of the ozone hole, and what else we can learn from atmospheric near-misses
The 1989 Montreal Protocol that banned chlorofluorocarbons is probably the best example of international cooperation to resolve a common problem.
Interview with Eric Schlosser: Why we can’t trust the government’s figures about nuclear close calls
The Pentagon’s list of accidents with US nuclear weapons, or "Broken Arrows," includes inaccuracies and is missing key events. Due to the looseness with which a Broken Arrow is defined, there may be hundreds more accidents.
Able Archer: How close of a call was it?
Did a NATO exercise in 1983 bring the superpowers close to blows?
Fukushima: Lessons learned from a devastating “near-miss”
Following the 2011 Fukushima disaster, Japan established a new nuclear regulatory commission and implemented new regulatory mechanisms. Twelve years later, where do things stand?
How to deal with an AI near-miss: Look to the skies
Those who work in AI could learn a lot from how near-misses are handled by the Aviation Safety Reporting System.
The future of technology: Lessons from China—and the US
The technological competition between the US and China has been portrayed as a simplistic battle between democracy and authoritarianism. The reality is that people everywhere—including in both these two countries—are all living in a digital world, where surveillance is ubiquitous and accountability for human rights abuses more challenging.
Nuclear Notebook: Russian nuclear weapons, 2023
Russia’s nuclear arsenal includes a stockpile of approximately 4,489 warheads with 1,674 strategic warheads deployed on ballistic missiles and at heavy bomber bases, while an approximate additional 999 strategic warheads—along with 1,816 nonstrategic warheads—are held in reserve. The Russian arsenal continues its broad modernization intended to replace most Soviet-era weapons by the late-2020s.
Cover by Thomas Gaulkin
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