核軍縮確認大構想、ほか

 Horsepox back from the dead; Cape Town’s Day Zero; the new NPR; more

 

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here to view an online version. Friday, February 23, 2018   Horsepox synthesis: A case of the unilateralist’s curse?   Gregory Lewis If one scientist out of 100 decides to pursue biotechnology research that ought to be left alone, the consequences—theoretically—could be unconscionable. Is that what has happened with horsepox synthesis?   No to a permissive US-Saudi nuclear deal Victor Gilinsk, Henry Sokolski The Trump administration is reportedly negotiating a “flexible” nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia. In the Middle East, “flexibility” on uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing is not a good idea.   The grand picture of verifying nuclear disarmament: What needs to be done? Malte Göttsche Verifying nuclear disarmament requires more than verifying warhead dismantlement. Therefore, the research community should develop a set of tools suited to verify irreversible nuclear disarmament comprehensively. This set of tools will need to address both nuclear warheads and fissile materials.   Day Zero: Lessons from Cape Town’s crisis Dan Drollette Jr. Water expert and MacArthur “genius” award winner Peter Gleick says we can learn much from watching what happens in South Africa. Biggest lesson: The cheapest source of new water is not actually new water.     Artificial intelligence and national security   Gregory C. Allen, Taniel Chan From Harvard University’s Belfer Center, this study of artificial intelligence and its likely security implications is an outstanding one-stop primer on the subject.     Science and Conscience: Chicago’s Met Lab and the Manhattan Project   Chicago’s role in the Manhattan Project did not end with the successful operation of the first nuclear reactor. Buildings across the University of Chicago campus were converted for use by the code-named Metallurgical Laboratory. The University of Chicago Library has just opened a special exhibit on the work of the Met Lab, featuring unique historical documents and artifacts, many not previously exhibited. The exhibition runs through April 13th. Continuity and change in the Trump administration’s Nuclear Posture Review  Anna Péczeli Anna Péczeli joins our expert commentary on the new NPR: “The tone of the new report is alarming about the security environment, arms control efforts are sidelined, and modernizations and new weapons systems have been brought to the forefront.”   If you haven’t read the entire collection, do so now. Authors include the Bulletin‘s Rachel Bronson and Sharon Squassoni; Nuclear Notebook co-author Hans Kristensen; Center for American Progress’ Lawrence J. Korb; and the Arms Control Association’s Alicia Sanders-Zakre. This collection analyzes what’s different and what’s the same about the new NPR.     The January/February digital Journal   In the January/February issue, the Bulletin asked top experts to illustrate how technologies now in relatively advanced stages of research and development really could significantly change the world for the better. Catch up on “The good news on reducing global risk”before the next issue of our digital Journal publishes on March 5th.   Make a donation today; become part of a vital, global information network for scientists, policymakers, and citizens around the world. Some images provided by Shutterstock. Receive this message as a forward? Click here to sign up for future mailings.  Share this message on Social Media: To unsubscribe from ALL future emails from the Bulletin, please click the ‘unsubscribe’ button below.