Pakistan tested its first nuclear weapon in 1998, becoming the world’s 7th state to officially test a nuclear weapon. The exact yields of the weapons in the country’s current arsenal are not known, but general estimates are between 5-12 kilotons (kt) for most weapons, with some longer-range ballistic missiles possibly reaching 40 kt. Pakistan has […]
Indian Nuclear Forces
India tested its first nuclear weapon in 1974, becoming the sixth country to detonate a nuclear weapon. The country’s arsenal carries weapons with estimated average yields ranging from 12 to 40 kilotons, though exact yields are unknown. India is actively pursuing membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and became a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime in 2016. […]
Go Back to School: Five Things Everyone Should Know About Nuclear Weapons
By Anna Schumann It’s back-to-school season, and while it may be the kids who are going to class, adults nationwide will also need to brush up on their spelling, long division and science fair skills. While everyone loves a good baking soda volcano, there are potential real-life explosions that we should all be worried about. […]
No First Use and the Myth of ‘Tying the President’s Hands’
By Abigail Stowe-Thurston, Program Coordinator, No First Use In a recent interaction at a campaign event (which you can watch in full below), 2020 Democratic presidential candidate and former Maryland Congressman John Delaney discussed his position on adopting a nuclear No First Use policy. “I can’t imagine when you would ever use a nuclear weapon […]
The Human Cost of the Hiroshima Bombing
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.
