Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Friday, July 29, 2016

Friday, July 29, 2016

Declaring a no-first-use nuclear policy would be exceedingly risky   Gordon G. Chang   Various defense and disarmament experts have suggested the President Obama may soon declare a no-first-use stance on nuclear weapons. Risky?     The peace boat Golden Rule sails into a new era of nuclear activism   Dawn Stover A piece of history is sailing around the Pacific Northwest to raise awareness of the continuing threat of nuclear weapons. But the very idea of peace is history to many.     Can the bioweapons convention survive Crispr?   Daniel M. Gerstein   The Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention gathers for the eighth time in November. This year the Conference faces one of the most unique challenges in its history: CRISPR gene editing.   How to respond to science-denial trolls   John Cook The subject of climate change always attracts online attacks. But for someone who researches misinformation and attacks on science, trolls provide data!     25 years of START   See a special collection of articles about the year the Doomsday Clock moved to 17 minutes to midnight.     What We’re Reading: A cyber vocabulary for understanding the DNC hack   Our What We’re Reading blog features short posts by our staff about articles you’ll want to see. This week we look at whether the record-breaking heat in much of the US and Middle East is related to climate change; the long-term dangers of government preferences for renewables over the main source of carbon-free electricity: nuclear power; the BBC’s plans in case of nuclear war, and understanding the language of cyber hacking.   We’re looking for a Chicago-based Development Director    With the announced retirement of our Development Director, the Bulletin is seeking a seasoned development officer with experience in development strategy and planning. Come work with us!     The Bulletin partners with the Stimson Center for the UNSCR 1540 International Student Essay Contest     We depend on your generosity to sustain a powerful network of editors, authors, advisors, and specialists to bridge the gap between science and policy. Please make a gift today through our new secure portal and amplify the voices of reason about issues that threaten our safety.   About the Bulletin   For more than 70 years the Bulletin has engaged science leaders, policy makers and the interested public on topics of nuclear weapons and disarmament, the changing energy landscape, climate change and emerging technologies.