Let There Be Weapons: The Department of Energy's new Genesis Mission promises AI-accelerated discovery. Seven of its first 26 challenges focus on nuclear weapons and national security.

Long-term behaviour of 137Cs in archived honey samples from a lowland mosaic landscape and a forest-influenced locality in southern Slovakia (1957-2001).

ABSTRACT The Bob Hawke Collection is held by the University of South Australia (UniSA) Library. This collection, comprising the personal papers of former Prime Minister, the honourable Robert James Lee (Bob) Hawke AC GCL, is housed in the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Library (BHPML) in Adelaide. Throughout his public career spanning the 1950s to his death in 2019, Hawke demonstrated interest in matters pertaining to the Pacific Islands. He was first influential while working with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) as an advocate where he led a wage arbitration case with local officers in the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. As ACTU president, Hawke led national and international action against atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons at Moruroa. As prime minister, Hawke promoted regional cooperation, support for development, and further anti-nuclear measures. The BHPML is a publicly accessible repository, offering Pacific academics and historians unique research opportunities.

ABSTRACT Dozens of locations across the United States were impacted by the development and deployment of American atomic weapons. Some of these places continue to change along with the world around them. Other sites remain in intentionally static space. Using a cultural landscape approach, this paper analyzes two such places that represent two broad groups of static atomic landscapes: 1) atomic testing sites; and 2) remnant sites for containment of stored materials and byproducts from the processing and extraction for and scientific testing of atomic technology. Influencing the static nature of such landscapes is a combination of intentional government-led efforts to monitor and keep such sites unchanged (to prevent potential contamination in the surrounding communities) and the remoteness, inaccessibility, and sometimes hidden nature of such locations. But another outcome is the creation of several largely stable, unchanging, distinct, and meaningful landscapes that reveal some of the less-known messages from the atomic age. Thus, even static spaces can be a dynamic force for placemaking for those who interact with the sites.

Basin-scale modelling of soil-to-river 137Cs transfer in the Rhône river system.

External radiation dose reconstruction among individuals exposed to fallout from atmospheric nuclear weapons testing at the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site.

A nuclear detonation will result in thousands of casualties who will need to be monitored for the occurrence of delayed complications from their exposure to radiation. The National Academies of Sciences have published a report on the key elements of the long-term health monitoring of populations after an improvised nuclear device (IND) detonation incident. We describe the results of a modified Delphi study where we sought consensus among a group of experts on the importance and difficulty of achieving the items in a list of key elements they were presented with. The expert consensus meeting included 27 experts from relevant disciplines and agencies. Consensus was reached in round 3 of the Delphi process on the initial list of 79 items that were generated during the first 2 rounds. Consensus was reached on 59 items regarding the level of importance and on 13 items regarding the difficulty of achieving the element in the design of a long-term health study. The items identified in this study, including those where consensus was met among the experts, can guide emergency and public health planners in preparing for a long-term population health program after an IND incident.

Twenty-eight composite surface soil samples collected from four ecosystem types across El Kala National Park, Algeria - a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserve. UNESCO Biosphere Reserve - were characterized for 40K, 137Cs, 226Ra, 228Ra, and 232Th by high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometry. Mean activity concentrations were 178.7±84.4Bqkg-1 for 40K, 12.1±9.7Bqkg-1 for 137Cs, 112.1±30.3Bqkg-1 for 226Ra, and 25.4±11.8Bqkg-1 for 232Th-series (all uncertainties reported at coverage factor k=2). Radium-226 concentrations exceeded the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) worldwide median of ~35Bqkg-1 by a factor of ~3, reflecting geological enrichment within Tertiary phosphatic sedimentary formations of north-eastern Algeria. Potassium-40 and 232Th concentrations were within worldwide typical ranges; 137Cs was consistent with residual global fallout from mid-twentieth century atmospheric nuclear weapons testing. In-situ absorbed dose rates (park mean 83.8 nGy h-1) include a cosmic radiation contribution of ~35 nGy h-1 that is absent from terrestrial dose rates calculated using UNSCEAR (2000) conversion coefficients applied to site-specific data (park mean 74.8 nGy h-1. Subtracting the cosmic component yields a corrected terrestrial in-situ mean of ~49 nGy h-1 - ~35% below the calculated value - consistent with systematic overestimation by the UNSCEAR semi-infinite source geometry when applied to surface-concentrated (0-15cm) radioactivity profiles. RESRAD-BIOTA Level 1 ecological screening, applying ICRP Publication 108 protective benchmarks of 10mGy d-1 for terrestrial animals and 1mGy d-1 for terrestrial plants, produced sum ratio factors (SRFs) of 0.0119 and 0.146, corresponding to safety margins of 84-fold and 6.8-fold below their respective benchmarks. Both SRF values were well below unity, confirming that Level 1 screening criteria are satisfied without requiring higher-tier assessment for terrestrial animals; a Level 2 assessment is recommended for terrestrial plants given the more constrained margin. Radium-226 dominated total biota dose (53% for animals; 75% for plants). These results establish the first systematic radiological baseline for this ecologically sensitive Mediterranean protected area and demonstrate the applicability of RESidual RADioactivity - BIOlogical Transport of Activity (RESRAD‑BIOTA) graded screening in naturally enriched geological settings.

Since 1977 the carpet bombing of cities, towns, villages, or other areas containing a concentration of civilians has been considered a war crime (Article 51 of Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions). Geographers like Hewitt (1983) have also attempted to uncover the catastrophic consequences of aerial bombing. This article first provides a historical overview of the innovations that have shaped the practice of aerial bombings. Second it discusses the efforts of academic geographers to document place annihilation (the purposive destruction of cities, their residents, and their built environment), reviewing their work on aerial bombing, in past, future, and present wars. Then it turns to nonacademics (i.e., lay geographers) using geographical knowledge to document the devastating effects of aerial bombing to advance awareness in the public and political debate with slightly more impact. Strategic bombing has been delegitimized, but civilian deaths, casually framed as collateral damage, are unfortunately still common. The need to document these practices and their consequences remains as urgent as in the nuclear arm race of the early 1980s.

The long-lived fission product technetium-99 (99Tc, t1/2 = (2.111 ± 0.012) × 105 years) was successfully detected in small-volume (10 L, and 1 g, respectively) environmental samples such as Pacific Ocean and river water, Antarctic snow, and peat. Its presence in the environment is almost exclusively of anthropogenic origin and the determined levels are attributed to nuclear weapons testing in the 1950s and 60s as no local contamination source is known to be present at these sampling sites. A unique capability for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) measurements of environmental 99Tc at unprecedented sensitivity was established, first using the Gas-filled Analysing Magnet System (GAMS, Germany) and after its shutdown, at the Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility (HIAF, Australia). New chemical extraction and measurement techniques, including improved non-isotopic normalisation, enabled detection limits as low as 0.6 femtograms (fg) per sample for Antarctic snow, and enhancement of precision from 30% (GAMS) to 16% (HIAF). The rather high concentrations of about 280 fg (99Tc) per g (dry mass) measured in peat indicate Tc accumulation in this archive, which opens the possibility of studying its migration behaviour even under reducing conditions. Furthermore, it allowed deduction of an improved estimate of the global 99Tc inventory to (120–190) TBq. The first direct detection of 99Tc at 8 fg L−1 in river water highlights the need for further studies in urban areas to evaluate potential contributions from nuclear medicine. The achieved sensitivity allows monitoring of on-going releases, improving the risk assessment of releases from nuclear waste repositories and tracer applications in environmental sciences.

Artificial radionuclide levels in land cover of radiological warfare agent test site '4'.

The purpose of the article is to analyze the reasons for the expansionist policy of the Russian Federation, based on the Russian imperial tradition and the potential capabilities of the leading Western powers to counteract Moscow's desire to revise the results of the Cold War. The methodology of the research is based on a combination of general scientific (analysis, synthesis, generalization) and special historical (historical-genetic, historical-typological, historical-systemic) methods with the principles of historicism, systematicity, scientificity and verification. The article also uses methods of historical analogies and political forecasting. The latter, in particular, is suitable for predicting the possible decline of the Russian Federation as an imperial entity. Scientific novelty of the work. The authors believe that the revival of Russian expansionism in the post-Soviet space became possible due to the actual indulgence of the West, led by the USA, to the policy of Russian imperial revenge, the beginning of which should be the restoration of the Soviet Union within the borders of 1991. The result of the West's loyal attitude to Russian geostrategic plans was not only the wars of the Russian Federation in the post-Soviet space, but also the conviction of the Russian authorities to assist the administration of US President D. Trump in returning Russia to the status of an influential international actor. The basis for such a policy of the Russian Federation is the history of US-Russian relations over the past 100 years. However, as the history of the collapse of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union has shown, such a US policy does not guarantee the preservation of Russia as an empire. The authors are convinced that the final decline of the Russian Empire can be led to the defeat of Russia in the war with Ukraine and its subsequent democratization. Conclusions. Thus, the consequences of the West's actual indulgence in the policy of Russian imperial revenge were the wars of the Russian Federation in Georgia and Ukraine, and the conviction of the Russian authorities in the effectiveness of the policy of aggressive wars, which, together with the use of nuclear blackmail tactics, will contribute to the return of Russia to the status of an influential international actor. The basis for this policy of the Russian Federation is the history of US-Russian relations over the past 100 years, the leitmotif of which was the desire of the United States to preserve Russia as a counterparty in various models of world order due to the predictability of its foreign policy, which is based on territorial expansion and world domination, as well as fear of the world's largest arsenal of nuclear weapons. To overcome the fear of the Russian nuclear threat, Western countries must increase sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation, which will make it impossible to continue Russian aggressive wars. The only way to encourage Moscow to negotiate is a policy of forcefully forcing Russia to peace. Also, as the history of the collapse of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union shows, military defeat and democratization of Russia can lead to the final decline of the three-hundred-year-old Russian imperial project.

This work investigates the influence of heat source on the chemically reactive flow of Boger tetra hybrid nanofluid over a Riga plate using Marangoni convection and a Darcy–Forchheimer porous medium. The diffusion of tetra nanoparticles (mathrm{C}mathrm{u}, mathrm{A}mathrm{g},mathrm{M}mathrm{g}mathrm{o}, and {mathrm{TiO}}_{2}) in sodium alginate produces the tetra hybrid nanofluid. The Marangoni convection effect has been observed to include flow, mass and heat transmission. In nuclear reactors and electronic devices, where accurate temperature control is critical, this sophisticated fluid dynamics framework holds a vital role in improving the effectiveness of cooling systems. The model guarantees higher reaction rates and product yields by aiding in the development of cutting-edge coating technologies and chemical reactor optimization. The modelled boundary layer conservation equations are transformed into non-linear coupled ODEs using an appropriate transformation. Once the model equation system has been condensed using the proper similarity variables, it is numerically resolved using the shooting method and the traditional bvp4c solver. The findings show that with greater solvent fraction parameter values, the use of Boger fluid improves the tetra hybrid nanofluid's velocity profile and reduces its thermal field.Graphical abstract

The potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or improvised nuclear devices in conflict scenarios could cause mass casualties, exposing victims to both physical trauma and ionizing radiation, resulting in complex injuries related to irradiation. Due to the synergistic and deleterious effects of radiation combined injuries, including higher mortality and impaired tissue repair, these injuries must be considered in victim management and triage strategies. While muscle injuries are often reported in conflict zones, their interaction with total-body irradiation (TBI) remains poorly understood. In this study, we developed a new invivo rat model combining total-body irradiation with localized muscle injury. Animals were exposed to 8 Gy of gamma radiation from a cobalt-60 source, causing hematopoietic acute radiation syndrome (H-ARS). Muscle injury was induced by intramuscular injection of notexin into the left soleus muscle. Clinical assessments were performed at multiple time points over 63 days after irradiation and/or muscle injury, with blood, bone marrow, and muscle samples harvested. Total-body irradiation alone caused about 15% lethality, significant weight loss, and temporary bone marrow aplasia, consistent with H-ARS. Notexin-induced muscle injury caused acute muscle necrosis followed by complete regeneration, as shown by the restoration of muscle mass and normal tissue structure. However, under the combined radiation and injury condition, muscle regeneration was markedly impaired. By day 63, the animals had lost about 20% of muscle mass, with ongoing necrotic fibers, chronic inflammation, thickening of the extracellular matrix in the perimysium, and smaller myofibers, indicating long-term functional impairment. This preclinical model captures radiation combined with muscle injury in the context of H-ARS and shows a lasting impairment of muscle regeneration after irradiation. It offers a useful tool to explore underlying mechanisms and improve medical support during future radiological or nuclear mass casualty events.

The beginning of the 1960s was marked by a new stage in the development of the Polish Army. It consisted of the creation of rocket troops. This decision was influenced by political considerations related to membership in the Warsaw Pact and strategic dependence on the Soviet Union. Rocket troops capable of carrying nuclear warheads with tactical (up to 100 km) and operational-tactical (50–450 km) ranges began to be established as part of the ground forces.According to the plan of organisational intentions of the Polish Army for 1959–1965, in 1961 a base was designated in Garrison Orzysz in 1961 for the formation of the first rocket units. It had a solid barracks base, technical facilities, and training ground infrastructure. The 32nd Lusatian Artillery Brigade, a tactical and operational rocket brigade, was then formed there. An Artillery Training Center was also established to prepare personnel scheduled for employment in the rocket armies that were formed subsequently.The changing international situation in the second half of the 1980s led the Polish side to give up on maintaining rocket troops that were offensive in nature. On June 10, 1989, as part of the restructuring of the armed forces, the 32nd Lusatian Artillery Brigade was reformed into the 32nd Specialised Training Centre of the Missile and Artillery Forces, which was finally dissolved in 1994. Thus, this type of unit disappeared from the structures of the Polish Army for more than thirty years.The article examines the scope of tasks as well as organisational changes in the aforementioned military units and their impact on the functioning and development of land-based rocket troops, based on archival documents located in the archives of the Military Historical Office: the Central Military Archive, the Military Archive in Oleśnica and the Military Archive in Toruń, as well as a few scientific studies.

ABSTRACT This paper explores the evolving relationship between the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the emerging international governance of atomic energy during the early Cold War. In the mid-1950s, widespread public concern that nuclear weapons testing might influence the weather prompted the WMO to investigate the atmospheric effects of atomic explosions. The organization initially envisioned coordinating international research on atomic weather and proposed the creation of a global network of monitoring stations to measure atmospheric radioactivity. This paper shows how these ambitions unfolded within a rapidly evolving institutional landscape shaped by Cold War geopolitics. The founding of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 1957 marked a turning point in the WMO’s nuclear engagement. Gradually, the WMO’s efforts were curtailed by institutional competition, limited resources for technical assistance, and shifting geopolitical priorities. By the early 1960s, the organization had assumed a supporting role in the emerging architecture of international atomic governance.

After a large-scale radiation incident such as the detonation of an improvised nuclear device, an unplanned release of radiation from a nuclear power plant, or the deployment of a radiation dispersal device, many people who were near the incident will seek medical reassurance, despite the low likelihood of experiencing clinically significant radiation exposure. This group, often called the "worried well," if not addressed separately, could overwhelm facilities and services designed to triage individuals who received high doses of radiation. Therefore, it is crucial to address this group's needs directly and estimate their numbers. Current biodosimetry methods are tailored for triage and dose estimation in individuals with significant exposures. Since first responders and healthcare workers will likely focus on high-dose cases, new methods are needed to serve the worried well. These could involve individuals collecting samples themselves and either reading them at home or transporting them to centers for analysis. Such methods must be able to use parameters valid for periods longer than two weeks. For example, one promising approach is electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis of radiation-induced free radicals in nail clippings. Developing this or other techniques capable of managing the large numbers of worried well, likely to be individuals with insignificant radiation exposure, will require sustained dedicated effort.

ABSTRACT This article reassesses escalation dynamics in nuclearized rivalries through the May 7–10, 2025 India–Pakistan crisis. Building on the stability–instability paradox and emerging scholarship on cumulative deterrence, it analyses Operation Sindoor and Pakistan’s Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos as a short-duration, high-intensity, multi-domain conflict. Drawing on open-source intelligence, official military statements, and third-party assessments, the study examines kinetic operations, cyber activity, and non-kinetic coercion, particularly water signalling under the Indus Waters Treaty. It argues that while nuclear weapons capped escalation temporally, they no longer confined conflict to sub-conventional domains, indicating a transformation of small wars with implications for deterrence stability in South Asia.

High Adherence Over a Decade of Annual Lung Cancer Screening in an Occupational Cohort.

ABSTRACT Russia is in the late stages of a multi-decade-long modernization program to replace all of its Soviet-era nuclear-capable systems with newer versions. However, this program is facing significant challenges that will further delay the entry into force of these newer systems. In this issue of the Nuclear Notebook, we estimate that Russia now possesses approximately 4,400 nuclear warheads for its strategic and non-strategic nuclear forces—a slight increase from the previous year. The significant increase in non-strategic nuclear weapons that the Pentagon predicted five years ago has so far not materialized. A nuclear weapons storage site in Belarus appears to be nearing completion. The Nuclear Notebook is researched and written by the staff of the Federation of American Scientists’ Nuclear Information Project: director Hans M. Kristensen, associate director Matt Korda, and senior research associates Eliana Johns and Mackenzie Knight-Boyle. To see all previous Nuclear Notebook columns in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists dating back to 1987, go to https://thebulletin.org/nuclear-notebook/.