Kathleen Burkinshaw’s mother was 12 years old when she survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Now 74 years later, the author of “The Last Cherry Blossom” shares her mother’s story and explains how remembering the human cost of nuclear weapons can help young Americans understand why this issue is still important today.
Why Don’t Americans Talk About Their Nukes Anymore?
Many Americans believe the “nuclear issue” was solved when the Cold War ended. Yet, there are still 14,000 nuclear weapons around the world today in the arsenals of nine countries. The United States alone currently maintains an arsenal of more than 6,000 weapons—more than enough to end life on this planet several times over. Americans […]
Will the Real Godzilla Please Stand Up?
Almost everyone has heard of Godzilla, even if they’ve never seen a Godzilla movie. What most people don’t know is the famous monster’s connection to nuclear weapons. Sixty-five years and 35 movies after its 1954 debut, Godzilla is still a mainstay in our summer movie rotation, but its origins have been all but erased. With […]
Bonus Episode: Ankit Panda on India’s Anti-Satellite Test
At the end of March, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India had successfully shot down one of its own satellites with an anti-satellite weapon. We spoke with Ankit Panda to break down the test and what it means for broader security issues in South Asia.
Star Wars: The Phantom Interceptor
At the launch of his Administration’s Missile Defense Review, President Trump declared that his goal is to intercept enemy missiles “anywhere, anytime, anyplace.” In the nuclear world, that sounded a lot like President Reagan’s nearly 40-year-old missile defense plan, “Star Wars.” We explain President Trump’s likely unrealistic and potentially dangerous vision with our Senior Science […]
