Collections
In publication since 1945, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has gathered the best science and scientific commentary on the serious human-made existential threats to our species and our planet. The collections below gather a selection of articles published by the Bulletin on subjects that remain critical to our understanding of these threats — from the writings of Albert Einstein to the most current outlook on the military use of autonomous weapons.
Fusion Energy
A “greatest hits” collection of some of our articles on fusion energy, which date back farther than expected. Essays by opponents and proponents of the technology, from major research laboratories (including the director-general of ITER), along with the observations of outsiders about the side effects—some beneficial, some not—to fusion research. The collection also includes articles about the possible dangers of fusion, the likely impacts of fusion research on nuclear weaponry, and concerns (expressed in 1970) that fusion as a power source may still be 20 years away in the future.
The INF and the future of arms control
The Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) required destruction of US and Soviet ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometers; it has long been considered central to the East-West arms control regime. In 2018 President Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the treaty. Here are some recent highlights of the Bulletin’s expert coverage of threats to the treaty, including alleged Russian violations and the proposed US pullout.
Military Applications of AI
Five top experts in AI and its potential uses in autonomous weapons and sensing systems weigh in on the moral and practical challenges of managing the explosion of military AI research and development around the world. The goal: to keep fast-paced advances in machine learning from sparking a worldwide AI arms race that poses a new existential risk to humanity.
Hiroshima & Nagasaki
It’s been 75 years since the Bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and, a few days later, on Nagasaki, Japan. That week in August changed the world forever; ever since, the global nuclear arsenal has risen and dropped. But the nuclear threat has never dissipated. Here’s a collection of Bulletin articles that provide what you need to remember and think about as the world navigates a particularly dangerous portion of the Nuclear Age.