Shelters for protection against the effects of nuclear weapons are often stated to be useless, largely because of firestorms. Recent models purport to show that nuclear weapons are more likely to cause firestorms than previously thought. These controversial models are based on uncertain assumptions, which are difficult or impossible to test. Regardless of the predictive validity of fire models,...

It is impossible to forecast the initiation and detailed conduct of a nuclear war. Despite this fact, all nations with nuclear weapons have elaborate plans for the deployment, targeting-and firing-of their warheads. Because of the reality of massiv~ nuclear arsenals, and the unprecedented nature of nuclear conflict, many strategists believe that almost any use of nuclear weapons could escalate ...

I science facing a new environment triggered by the alleged successful espionage by foreign parties, in particular China, aimed at the nation’s nuclear weapons secrets? Several much publicized reports, in particular that of the Cox Commission of the Congress†, the Rudman report by the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, and the review of the findings of the intelligence community, ...

It is well-known that the design and production of nuclear weapons required major efforts in scientific research and engineering, with a supporting infrastructure of weapons laboratories. Less well-known, is that scientific research and development have also played an important role in nuclear arms control. In this paper, my purpose is to explain the role of seismology in treaty verification; t...

Technologies play a crucial role in both war and peace. Technologies designed for violence, namely weapons, range from handguns to nuclear weapons. Important characteristics of weapons include their destructive power, centralized control, offensive capacity, and ease of use. Technologies valuable for a peaceful society include those used in agriculture, construction, and transport. They can als...

Nuclear nonproliferation efforts traditionally have focused on controlling the supply of proliferation-relevant technology, material, and expertise. As barriers to diffusion of all three have been lowered, there is increased acknowledgement of the need to reduce demand for such weapons, and, in cases where efforts to prevent proliferation have failed, the need to develop effective international...

The Russian aggression against Ukraine has unleashed new fears of a nuclear war and also due to direct indirect threats by the side. As consequence, it seems appropriate re-open debate about legality threat or use weapons, led somewhat inconclusive results ICJ Opinion 1996 on ‘Legality Threat Use Nuclear Weapons’. If some elements rationality are left in this war, weapons will not be employed U...

‘‘Nuclear threshold states’’*those that have chosen nuclear restraint despite having significant nuclear capabilities*seem like the perfect partners for the reinvigorated drive toward global nuclear disarmament. Having chosen nuclear restraint, threshold states may embrace disarmament as a way to guarantee the viability of their choice (which may be impossible in a proliferating world). Support...

It is recalled that the only non-nuclear military application in which depleted-uranium alloys out-perform present-day tungsten alloys is longrod penetration into a main battle-tank’s armor. However, this advantage is only on the order of 10% and disappearing when the uranium versus tungsten comparison is made in terms of actual lethality of complete anti-tank systems instead of laboratory-type...

Nuclear power plants alone are not a proliferation risk. Without enrichment or reprocessing capabilities, power-reactor fuel, whether fresh or spent, cannot be used for the production of nuclear weapons. There are various ways, however, in which reactor projects and related nuclear fuel-cycle facilities could be used to further a nuclear-weapons development programme. This chapter describes the...