Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists October 21, 2016

Friday, October 21, 2016

Hands across the lab: Will the US and Iran cooperate on science?   Ariane Tabatabai   Behind headlines about disagreements, Tehran is increasingly embracing technological collaboration with the outside world.     South Asian nuclear tensions: Back to core issues   Jayita Sarkar, Rabia Akhtar, Mario E. Carranza   Instead of focusing on Washington's role in the region, it would be more useful to examine practical steps that could prevent escalation of bilateral conflicts from the conventional to the nuclear level. Jayita Sarkar opens the final round in our debate on reducing South Asia’s nuclear dangers.   The psychological power of nuclear weapons   Alex Wellerstein   Nuclear weapons and nuclear energy have historically been associated with both apocalyptic fear and salvational hope. Do we fear nuclear technologies too much or too little? The author makes the case that nuclear fear is a double-edged sword: It can be mobilized to reduce risks, but it can also warp risk perceptions. From the September/October subscription journal.     The Nuclear Roundup is now at the Bulletin   Jodi Lieberman   Sign up to receive Jodi Lieberman's Nuclear Roundup. Discover why so many readers find this daily summary of nuclear-related news simply indispensable.   New Voices of Tomorrow essay: Politics or policy? What’s thwarting India’s Nuclear Suppliers Group ambitions Lauryn Williams Indian analysts and policymakers blame political factors for the failure of the country’s campaign to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group, but resolving concerns about India’s nonproliferation policies is the key to success. Rose Gottemoeller takes office as NATO Deputy Secretary General   NATO website   Former US Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller took up her post as NATO’s Deputy Secretary General on Monday. Gottemoeller is also a former Bulletin Board member. See her interview with John Mecklin from May, 2015.     Time is not right for US no-first-use   Ta Minh Tuan, Parris H. Chang, Raymond Jose Quilop   Proponents of a US nuclear no-first-use policy say it would de-escalate potential nuclear crises, but the second round of our debate closes with a warning that, amid rising tensions over the South China Sea, no prudent US leader can afford the luxury of initiating a nuclear no-first-use policy.   What We're Reading   What We’re Reading is a new blog at the Bulletin featuring short posts about articles you’ll want to see. This week we look at how the US military is leading the charge toward renewable energy, and an op/ed in the New York Times by Bulletin columnist Ariane Tabatabai on ensuring the longevity of the Iran nuclear deal.   2016 Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Annual Dinner   In Chicago in November? You still have time to reserve a place at the Bulletin's 2016 Annual Dinner, set for Monday, November 14, at the Chicago Cultural Center. We are expecting another sold-out event, so make your reservations today!     The Real Nuclear Threat   Lawrence Krauss   Board of Sponsors Chair Lawrence Krauss writes in The New Yorker.     How the next president should address climate change   David Titley   Science and Security Board member David Titley writes in Defense One.     North Korean missile tests, tensions with Russia, and our own expensive plans to modernize the US nuclear arsenal have escalated public concern about nuclear security.   The consequences of climate change threaten people, crops, and domestic stability--yet through it all the Bulletin steadily focuses on facts, reasoned arguments, and viable solutions. To keep it up, we need your support. Every dollar sustains a growing network--and we are counting on your engagement and support. Please give today.   About the Bulletin   For more than 70 years the Bulletin has engaged science leaders, policy makers, and the interested public on topics of nuclear weapons and disarmament, the changing energy landscape, climate change, and emerging technologies.

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