Stephen Young
@atomicwonk.bsky.social
2K followers 330 following 590 posts
Advocate for more sensible nuclear weapons policies, firm believer that we should not live in a world where hundreds of millions could be dead in an hour. Associate Director for Government Affairs, Global Security Program, Union of Concerned Scientists
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atomicwonk.bsky.social
My colleagues who have seen the movie say it is amazing, a tense, fact-action must-see, story.
Here's the trailer. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wpw...
A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE | Official Trailer | Netflix
YouTube video by Netflix
www.youtube.com
atomicwonk.bsky.social
"Humanity cannot coexist with nuclear weapons forever."

- critical takeaway from my @ucs.org colleague Jenn Knox's must-read piece "Five Things to Know Before Watching A House of Dynamite," the @netflix.com movie premiering in theater's tomorrow:
blog.ucs.org/jknox/five-t...
Five Things to Know Before Watching A House of Dynamite
The new film A House of Dynamite depicts what happens when a nuclear missile is launched at the United States. The real-world possibility is just as scary.
blog.ucs.org
atomicwonk.bsky.social
The bottom-line: "Humanity cannot coexist with nuclear weapons forever."
atomicwonk.bsky.social
Tomorrow "A House of Dynamite" will blow up on screens across the US. Fast-paced, action-oriented, true-to-life story telling about the threat that every American, indeed every human, faces every day. My colleague Jenn Know has "Five Things to Know" before you watch: blog.ucs.org/jknox/five-t...
Five Things to Know Before Watching A House of Dynamite
The new film A House of Dynamite depicts what happens when a nuclear missile is launched at the United States. The real-world possibility is just as scary.
blog.ucs.org
atomicwonk.bsky.social
So excited for Sébastien Philippe, who won a MacArthur "genius" award for his work "exposing past harms and potential risks from building, testing, and storing launch-ready nuclear weapons." He is a truly deserving recipient! www.macfound.org/fellows/clas...
Sébastien Philippe
Exposing past harms and potential risks from building, testing, and storing launch-ready nuclear weapons.
www.macfound.org
Reposted by Stephen Young
ucs.org
The data and evidence are clear. Over the past 8 months, the egregious actions of President Trump and his enablers have caused real harm to people and communities across the country.
Science and Democracy Under Siege
This administration's first 6 months have been characterized by destruction, division, and chaos.
www.ucs.org
atomicwonk.bsky.social
We @ucs.org proudly host a Scoville fellow now and are so lucky to have them on our team! We encourage anyone interested in working in the field of international peace and security to apply! It is a great opportunity for the fellows and real benefit to UCS.
scovillepf.bsky.social
Recent college & grad school alumni:

Work for 6 to 9 months with one of over 2 dozen NGOs in DC on international peace & security issues, including nuclear arms control, peacebuilding, & diplomacy. Apply by Oct. 20 to @scovillepf.bsky.social for the spring '26 semester. scoville.org
atomicwonk.bsky.social
Bigelow later said: "“When you see something horrible happening, your instinct is to do something about it. You can freeze in fearful apathy or you can even talk yourself into saying that it isn’t horrible. I can’t do that. I have to act. This is too horrible. We know it. Let’s all act.”
atomicwonk.bsky.social
Albert Bigelow was the original captain of Golden Dome, a navy commander who resigned his post in protest US use of the nuclear bomb and the massive destruction caused by nuclear testing. The Golden Dome was voyaging to the US testing site in the Pacific when it was halted and the crew arrested.
Reposted by Stephen Young
Reposted by Stephen Young
ucs.org
On Saturday, @wsj.com broke the news that the USDA canceled its annual report on food insecurity & hunger. Now, researchers in the unit responsible for the survey have been put on indefinite leave.
Exclusive | USDA Puts Food Researchers on Leave
The move comes days after the Trump administration abruptly canceled an annual Agriculture Department report that measures hunger in America.
www.wsj.com
Reposted by Stephen Young
dkspaulding.bsky.social
“As unrealistic as the establishment of a nuclear weapons–free zone in Northeast Asia may seem, talking about it can be a vehicle for improving security in the region..” The latest from my colleague, @gkucs.bsky.social on prospects for a potential Trump-Kim reunion.
How to Make the Next Trump-Kim Meeting a Success
Kim Jong Un could be willing to agree to a nuclear weapons-free zone in Northeast Asia because it would threat North Korea the same as China, Russia, and the United States.
blog.ucs.org
Reposted by Stephen Young
gkucs.bsky.social
"We live in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape where the established rules and norms of the post–Cold War era are dissolving quicker than we can devise new ones to take their place. It’s a transition fraught with dangers but also ripe with new possibilities."
How to Make the Next Trump-Kim Meeting a Success
Kim Jong Un could be willing to agree to a nuclear weapons-free zone in Northeast Asia because it would threat North Korea the same as China, Russia, and the United States.
blog.ucs.org
atomicwonk.bsky.social
Very much an amateur who dabbles in gardening - in fact I am more the laborer and my spouse the planner/designer!
Reposted by Stephen Young
Reposted by Stephen Young
ucs.org
Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are cars or trucks that can operate safely without human drivers taking control. But how do they work, and what impact do they have? Learn more in our updated explainer:
Self-Driving Cars Explained
Self-driving cars are hitting the streets—are we ready for the potential impacts?
www.ucs.org
Reposted by Stephen Young
dkspaulding.bsky.social
Even conservative thinktanks are projecting the cost of Golden Dome to be anywhere from $252 billion to $3.6 trillion over 20 years. Before the US commits itself to an unfeasible, easily defeated, false sense of security, it should be honest about the costs and capabilities.
www.aei.org
Reposted by Stephen Young
dkspaulding.bsky.social
The DOE has ordered a review of a key part of nuclear modernization - plutonium pit production. Here’s my take on why it (and plans for other parts of the US triad) deserve reconsideration and rescoping. At present, ambition and reality don’t align.
It’s Time to Rethink US Nuclear Weapons Manufacturing
There is no technical justification for replacing the entire US nuclear arsenal—but the government is willing to spend more than $2 trillion to do just that.
blog.ucs.org
atomicwonk.bsky.social
For a deep dive on plutonium pits and a sensible, affordable and sustainable alternative to the mad rush to producing pits in bulk that is the current US plan, see my colleague Dylan Spaulding’s report: www.ucs.org/resources/pl...
Plutonium Pit Production
The US plan to build new plutonium pits for nuclear weapons is unnecessary, risky, and dangerous to the health of workers and communities.
www.ucs.org
atomicwonk.bsky.social
Asked about pit production, she notes the Livermore is deeply involved because they are designing the first warhead with new pits - they have a team full time at PF-4 at LANL. She notes PF-4 is working 24-7 to both make pits and install pit-making equipment - which (I note) is a risky approach.
atomicwonk.bsky.social
On fusion research, she notes that China is making MASSIVE investments in multiple approaches, something the US is not able to do. They are building a laser-based system far more powerful than NIF. They have other approaches as well.