Stephen Schwartz
@atomicanalyst.bsky.social
Editor/Co-author, “Atomic Audit: The Costs and Consequences of US Nuclear Weapons Since 1940” • Nonresident Senior Fellow, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists • Nuclear weapons expert (history, policy, costs, accidents) and tracker of the nuclear “Football.”
Press coverage focused on an account of a once secret mission in 1975 that tried but failed to retrieve 80 grams of US plutonium from a research reactor in Dalat, Vietnam, before communists took over the entire country. The failure went unnoticed for four years and the DOE did not try to follow up.
January 15, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Press coverage focused on an account of a once secret mission in 1975 that tried but failed to retrieve 80 grams of US plutonium from a research reactor in Dalat, Vietnam, before communists took over the entire country. The failure went unnoticed for four years and the DOE did not try to follow up.
O’Leary also released a congressionally-mandated report detailing the historical functions of US nuclear weapons production facilities and linking decades of nuclear weapons production and testing activities to their significant nationwide environmental consequences. archive.org/details/link...
January 15, 2026 at 3:27 PM
O’Leary also released a congressionally-mandated report detailing the historical functions of US nuclear weapons production facilities and linking decades of nuclear weapons production and testing activities to their significant nationwide environmental consequences. archive.org/details/link...
Today in 1997, Secretary of Energy Hazel R. O’Leary held her fourth Openness Initiative press conference, declassifying 6,500 previously secret nuclear test films and publishing a thorough report on radiological effluents released by nuclear tests in the United States. www.osti.gov/opennet/form...
January 15, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Today in 1997, Secretary of Energy Hazel R. O’Leary held her fourth Openness Initiative press conference, declassifying 6,500 previously secret nuclear test films and publishing a thorough report on radiological effluents released by nuclear tests in the United States. www.osti.gov/opennet/form...
Globally, in 1986 eight states controlled an estimated 64,449 nuclear warheads. Today, nine states control an estimated 12,200 warheads (including retired warheads awaiting dismantlement)—with the United States and Russia possessing 87 percent of those weapons. That’s an 81% reduction over 40 years.
January 15, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Globally, in 1986 eight states controlled an estimated 64,449 nuclear warheads. Today, nine states control an estimated 12,200 warheads (including retired warheads awaiting dismantlement)—with the United States and Russia possessing 87 percent of those weapons. That’s an 81% reduction over 40 years.
At the time of this offer, the United States and the Soviet Union respectively possessed 23,317 and ~40,159 nuclear bombs/warheads. Thanks to significant bilateral and unilateral reductions starting in 1988, today the United States has about 3,700 (84% less) and Russia has about 4,300 (89% less).
January 15, 2026 at 3:13 PM
At the time of this offer, the United States and the Soviet Union respectively possessed 23,317 and ~40,159 nuclear bombs/warheads. Thanks to significant bilateral and unilateral reductions starting in 1988, today the United States has about 3,700 (84% less) and Russia has about 4,300 (89% less).
After reading the letter, then-Secretary of State George Shultz rushed excitedly to the White House to tell Reagan that Gorbachev had proposed the total elimination of nuclear weapons by 2000. Reagan responded, “Why wait until the year 2000?,” anticipating talks at the Reykjavik Summit that October.
January 15, 2026 at 3:13 PM
After reading the letter, then-Secretary of State George Shultz rushed excitedly to the White House to tell Reagan that Gorbachev had proposed the total elimination of nuclear weapons by 2000. Reagan responded, “Why wait until the year 2000?,” anticipating talks at the Reykjavik Summit that October.
Here is Gorbachev’s January 14, 1986, letter to President Reagan laying out the the rationale and objectives for his sweeping global nuclear disarmament plan, written less than two months after their first meeting at a summit in Geneva, Switzerland: nsarchive.gwu.edu/document/220...
January 15, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Here is Gorbachev’s January 14, 1986, letter to President Reagan laying out the the rationale and objectives for his sweeping global nuclear disarmament plan, written less than two months after their first meeting at a summit in Geneva, Switzerland: nsarchive.gwu.edu/document/220...
40 years ago today, Mikhail Gorbachev, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, publicly issued a bold and unprecedented three-stage proposal for eliminating all nuclear weapons worldwide by 2000. Most of President Ronald Reagan’s advisers quickly rejected it as mere propaganda.
January 15, 2026 at 3:13 PM
40 years ago today, Mikhail Gorbachev, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, publicly issued a bold and unprecedented three-stage proposal for eliminating all nuclear weapons worldwide by 2000. Most of President Ronald Reagan’s advisers quickly rejected it as mere propaganda.
In season one, episode four (“The Stans”) of the 2018 Netflix documentary series “Dark Tourist,” New Zealand journalist and host David Farrier toured the now-closed Semipalatinsk Test Site and went for a swim in Lake Chagan.
January 15, 2026 at 2:28 PM
In season one, episode four (“The Stans”) of the 2018 Netflix documentary series “Dark Tourist,” New Zealand journalist and host David Farrier toured the now-closed Semipalatinsk Test Site and went for a swim in Lake Chagan.
Today in 1965, the Soviet Union conducted the Chagan test, its first “peaceful nuclear explosion,” detonating a 140-kiloton device 584 feet beneath the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan. The resulting crater—1,339 feet wide and 328 feet deep—was then flooded and turned into an artificial lake.
January 15, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Today in 1965, the Soviet Union conducted the Chagan test, its first “peaceful nuclear explosion,” detonating a 140-kiloton device 584 feet beneath the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan. The resulting crater—1,339 feet wide and 328 feet deep—was then flooded and turned into an artificial lake.
“The means by which we live have outdistanced the ends for which we live. Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Strength to Love” (1963)
— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Strength to Love” (1963)
January 15, 2026 at 2:19 PM
“The means by which we live have outdistanced the ends for which we live. Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Strength to Love” (1963)
— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Strength to Love” (1963)
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., born 97 years ago today, fought for racial equality, economic justice, _and_ preached passionately against the Vietnam War and the grave, ever-present risks of nuclear war. Although we have made real progress globally on the latter, we have yet to fully heed his warning.
January 15, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., born 97 years ago today, fought for racial equality, economic justice, _and_ preached passionately against the Vietnam War and the grave, ever-present risks of nuclear war. Although we have made real progress globally on the latter, we have yet to fully heed his warning.
Today, there are an estimated 3,700 nuclear bombs/warheads in the US nuclear stockpile, of which 1,770 are operationally deployed. Another ~1,500 retired warheads await disassembly. There are 65 nuclear-capable bombers (out of 95 overall), 400 ICBMs, 280 SLBMs, and 14 ballistic missile submarines.
January 14, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Today, there are an estimated 3,700 nuclear bombs/warheads in the US nuclear stockpile, of which 1,770 are operationally deployed. Another ~1,500 retired warheads await disassembly. There are 65 nuclear-capable bombers (out of 95 overall), 400 ICBMs, 280 SLBMs, and 14 ballistic missile submarines.
See also this circa 1984 Boston Globe article about a prior month-long exhibition in New York City, which reported it had cost Donachy $12,000 up to that point, and that she planned to recoup her costs by selling off individual pieces for between $4 and $2,400 (h/t @conelrad6401240.bsky.social):
January 14, 2026 at 2:35 PM
See also this circa 1984 Boston Globe article about a prior month-long exhibition in New York City, which reported it had cost Donachy $12,000 up to that point, and that she planned to recoup her costs by selling off individual pieces for between $4 and $2,400 (h/t @conelrad6401240.bsky.social):
The New York Times also published an article about the evocative exhibit shortly after it opened, which is how I first learned about it.
January 14, 2026 at 2:35 PM
The New York Times also published an article about the evocative exhibit shortly after it opened, which is how I first learned about it.
40 years ago today, Barbara Donachy’s art installation “Amber Waves of Grain”—which used some 35,000 ceramic miniatures to depict every bomber, missile, submarine, warhead, and bomb in the US nuclear arsenal—opened in Boston after prior showings in New York, Washington, DC, Colorado, and Berlin.
January 14, 2026 at 2:35 PM
40 years ago today, Barbara Donachy’s art installation “Amber Waves of Grain”—which used some 35,000 ceramic miniatures to depict every bomber, missile, submarine, warhead, and bomb in the US nuclear arsenal—opened in Boston after prior showings in New York, Washington, DC, Colorado, and Berlin.
Ironically, this is the neighborhood where “Miracle Mile” is set some three decades later.
January 14, 2026 at 5:30 AM
Ironically, this is the neighborhood where “Miracle Mile” is set some three decades later.
This is how Stephen Colbert covered the alarming incident: www.facebook.com/watch/?v=130...
January 13, 2026 at 7:36 PM
This is how Stephen Colbert covered the alarming incident: www.facebook.com/watch/?v=130...
A thorough investigation by the Federal Communications Commission found “a combination of human error and inadequate safeguards contributed to the transmission” of the alert. Contrary to some initial reports in 2018, there is no evidence that it was a deliberate act. www.fcc.gov/document/fcc...
January 13, 2026 at 7:36 PM
A thorough investigation by the Federal Communications Commission found “a combination of human error and inadequate safeguards contributed to the transmission” of the alert. Contrary to some initial reports in 2018, there is no evidence that it was a deliberate act. www.fcc.gov/document/fcc...
Eight years ago today at 8:07 AM local time in Hawaii (1:07 PM EST)—during a period of sharply escalating tensions between President Donald Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un—this emergency alert flashed on smartphones and was broadcast on televisions and radios across the 50th state.
January 13, 2026 at 7:36 PM
Eight years ago today at 8:07 AM local time in Hawaii (1:07 PM EST)—during a period of sharply escalating tensions between President Donald Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un—this emergency alert flashed on smartphones and was broadcast on televisions and radios across the 50th state.
WTBS ran this print advertisement to promote the premiere. On the following day, WTBS aired two other programs about nuclear war, “On the 8th Day,” a special report about nuclear winter, and “Breaking the Spell,” a US-Soviet expert dialogue about avoiding nuclear war, both featuring Carl Sagan.
January 13, 2026 at 7:07 PM
WTBS ran this print advertisement to promote the premiere. On the following day, WTBS aired two other programs about nuclear war, “On the 8th Day,” a special report about nuclear winter, and “Breaking the Spell,” a US-Soviet expert dialogue about avoiding nuclear war, both featuring Carl Sagan.
Tonight in 1985, the harrowing and grimly realistic nuclear war drama “Threads” first aired in the United States on cable superstation WTBS, thanks to station owner and very concerned citizen Ted Turner. This unforgettable film is currently streaming for free in the United States on Kanopy.
January 13, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Tonight in 1985, the harrowing and grimly realistic nuclear war drama “Threads” first aired in the United States on cable superstation WTBS, thanks to station owner and very concerned citizen Ted Turner. This unforgettable film is currently streaming for free in the United States on Kanopy.
The aircraft carried two massive war reserve 9-Megaton B53 thermonuclear bombs. Pilot Maj. Thomas W. McCormick (42), ejected and trudged six hours through deep snow to a farmhouse. Co-pilot Capt. Parker Peedin (29) also ejected and was found by searchers more than 36 hours after the crash.
January 13, 2026 at 6:15 PM
The aircraft carried two massive war reserve 9-Megaton B53 thermonuclear bombs. Pilot Maj. Thomas W. McCormick (42), ejected and trudged six hours through deep snow to a farmhouse. Co-pilot Capt. Parker Peedin (29) also ejected and was found by searchers more than 36 hours after the crash.
Today in 1964 at about 1:40 AM EST, a B-52D flying from Westover AFB, MA, to Turner AFB, GA, following a diversion during a CHROME DOME airborne alert mission, encountered severe turbulence in a blizzard, lost its tail section, and crashed on Big Savage Mountain, ~17 miles SW of Cumberland, MD.
January 13, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Today in 1964 at about 1:40 AM EST, a B-52D flying from Westover AFB, MA, to Turner AFB, GA, following a diversion during a CHROME DOME airborne alert mission, encountered severe turbulence in a blizzard, lost its tail section, and crashed on Big Savage Mountain, ~17 miles SW of Cumberland, MD.
The White House Military Office Coast Guard aide is on “Football” duty today for Emperor Trump’s trip to Dearborn and Detroit, Michigan. The ~45-lb. satchel accompanies Trump 24/7, enabling him alone to authorize the use of any of our ~1,770 deployed nuclear weapons—up to 900 on alert—at any time.
January 13, 2026 at 5:02 PM
The White House Military Office Coast Guard aide is on “Football” duty today for Emperor Trump’s trip to Dearborn and Detroit, Michigan. The ~45-lb. satchel accompanies Trump 24/7, enabling him alone to authorize the use of any of our ~1,770 deployed nuclear weapons—up to 900 on alert—at any time.