Traffick jamming
The U.N. Security Council obligates nations to take "appropriate effective" measures to prevent the trafficking of WMD-related technologies. Yet the U.S. government has no system to evaluate countries' efforts, making it nearly impossible to hold them accountable for their own inactions, argues Anthony Wier.
Hacker's delight
The Bush administration's flagship missile defense program relies on a complex communications network crossing eleven time zones to detect and intercept incoming missiles. One would think such a system would have top-notch security--but it doesn’t, writes analyst Victoria Samson.
Nuclear 9/11?
When the Twin Towers fell on September 11, 2001, so too did America's confidence that it was secure from calamitous acts of terrorism. Since then, the United States has undertaken concerted efforts to secure loose nukes and bombmaking materials. But, five years later, are we any safer?
 The ongoing failure of imagination By Graham Allison
The continuing misuses of fear By William M. Arkin
U.S. nuclear threats: Then and now
During an impromptu April 18 press conference, President George W. Bush refused to rule out the possibility of a nuclear strike against Iran, declaring that "all options are on the table." In doing so, Bush joined a long list of U.S. officials who have drawn the nuclear sword in an effort to influence international relations, report Robert S. Norris and Hans M. Kristensen.
Games get serious
To many, video and computer games represent an adolescent diversion. But a growing community of scientists, policy makers, and game developers beg to differ. Together, they've created a nascent movement that delves into such hefty issues as preventing genocide, promoting democracy, and training first responders, writes Josh Schollmeyer.
Sacred values
Hopes for a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians appear dimmer than ever. Yet after recently returning from Gaza, researcher Scott Atran reports that Hamas leader and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya is prepared to negotiate with Jerusalem.
When could Iran get the Bomb?
Iran faces considerable obstacles were it to pursue nuclear weapons. According to several possible scenarios, Iran appears to need at least three years before it can reliably produce large quantities of highly enriched uranium. Given the technical difficulties of the task, it could take much longer, writes David Albright.
Global nuclear stockpiles, 1945-2006
Nuclear weapon states have reduced the global stockpile to its lowest level in 45 years. Yet, all five original nuclear weapon states continue to insist that nuclear weapons are essential to their national security, which translates into the possibility that more nations will want the Bomb, according to Robert S. Norris and Hans M. Kristensen.
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From the Archive
Who studies the scientists?
In the June 1951 Bulletin, University of Chicago Professor Richard Meier penned a humorous sociological study on the origins of scientists, noting the "curious and romantic" nature of chemists and the fact that "95 percent of all physicists are addicted to classical music."
Meier also foresaw that political pressure on scientists could produce a new wave of scientific humanism or a new breed of ultra-loyal citizen-scientists. Meier's thought-provoking study is now available from the Bulletin.
North Korea: Nuclear number nine?
North Korea claims to have manufactured its own nuclear weapons, which intelligence officials have long suspected. If true, the feat would make Pyongyang the ninth nuclear power. To best understand how the North's announcement will affect efforts to denuclearize the Korean peninsula, take a look at these recent Bulletin reports on U.S.-North Korean relations and North Korean nuclear capabilities:
North Korean nuclear program, 2005
North Korea: No bygones at Yongbyon
North Korea: Less than meets the eye
Letter from Pyongyang
How much plutonium does North Korea have?
What's up with Iran?
Is the Bush administration right when it claims that Iran's nuclear activities are a prelude to an Iranian nuclear bomb? The answer is maybe. Iran's centrifuge capacities could be used to produce fuel for its new nuclear power plant, or to enrich uranium for a bomb--or maybe both. Get all the details on Iran's nuclear capabilities from the Bulletin's latest reports:
When could Iran get the Bomb?, July 2006
Keep your enemy closer, November 2005
Engage or enrage, September 2005
Iran, countdown to showdown, November 2004
Schooling Iran's atom squad, May 2004
The centrifuge connection, March 2004
Iran, player or rogue?, September 2003
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