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08 May 12 at 4 pm
tags: Nuclear  Twitter 

Then here’s a brief list of a few good Twitter sites tweeting about nuclear nonproliferation, nuclear material security, and nuclear science:

Fissile Materials Working Group (FMWG)

Global Security Newswire (of the Nuclear Threat Initiative)

The American Nuclear Society

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Carnegie Nuclear Policy Program

International Atomic Energy Agency

CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research


23 Apr 12 at 6 pm

Take a moment from the Iran hype to familiarize yourself with the U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals.

tags: Nuclear  Security 
Nuclear security starts at home.

23 Apr 12 at 5 pm

For the hardcore academic who wants to be part of the Council on Foreign Relations club.

Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship Program

Exclusively Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons Oriented:
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS)
Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI)
Fissile Materials Working Group (FMWG)
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Project (NPPP)
Project on Managing the Atom (Harvard University)
Council for a Livable World

Nuclear Material Security/Nonproliferation Programs: 
The Stanley Foundation
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The Henry L. Stimson Center
Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
Center fo Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR)

  • New Generation Of US Nuclear-Powered Drones Would Be Able To Fly For Months Without Refueling. Sandia National Laboratories and Northrop Gumman have set out to develop blueprints for nuclear-powered drones that would be able to fly for months. Currently, drones can fly for a few days before refueling. The new design seeks to address three problems: “insufficient hang time over a potential target, lack of power for running surveillance and weapons systems, and lack of capacity for communications.” The research is highly sensitive and is shelved for now due to concerns over the tendency for drones to crash; a nuclear drone that crashed would effectively become a “dirty bomb.” (Business Insider)
  • U.S. Hopes Latest Talks on Iran Nuclear Program Lead to New Diplomacy. Michael Adler discusses what we can expect from the latest round of P5-plus-1 talks with Iran in Istanbul, Turkey. The talks, announced last week by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, will take place on April 13 (yes, that is a Friday). The talks themselves are a surprise, considering the recent warmongering done by Israel and, to a lesser extent, by the U.S. The talks come as new oil sanctions have been placed on Iran. Iran stands firm on its commitment to continuing its enrichment program. However, if the talks can break off into a bilateral discussion between the US and Iran (like they did in Geneva 2009), that at least could be a step forward. (Daily Beast)
  • S.Africa considers nuclear fuel cycle facilities.  South Africa is considering re-establishing the uranium enrichment and conversion facilities that were dismantled during the apartheid era. Demand for energy and decades of underinvestment have the led the government to consider re-establishing these facilities in order to generate another 9,600 megawatts of nuclear energy. South Africa cites a needed “security of supply” as a reason why simply imported the enriched uranium, rather than producing it in the country itself, is no longer the best option. South Africa will likely be subject to slight political fallout if it pursues this plan, considering the mounting fears over nuclear proliferation and material security (especially considering the debate surrounding Iran). (Reuters)
  • IAEA seeks more info before any North Korea trip. The IAEA has made clear to North Korea that specific questions need to be answered before the UN nuclear watchdog travels to the country to inspect its nuclear program. Pyongyang sent an invitation to the IAEA in efforts to demonstrate how seriously it is taking the nuclear moratorium deal it struck with the US. However, North Korea has drawn condemnation and skepticism thanks to its plans to launch a long-range rocket with a satellite, an act that is perceived as “practice” for a long-range missile that could carry a nuclear bomb. The IAEA is right to want to solidify the logistics of its visit in advance, for North Korea has twice expelled IAEA officials in the past, in 1994 and 2009. (Reuters)

  • Don’t Like Nuclear Proliferation? Ban the Bomb.  Rajan Menon talks briefly about why America’s current non-proliferation policy is counterproductive and what steps the P5 nations (esp. Russia and the US) should take to stop the proliferation of nuclear warheads. (Huffington Post)
  • Iran: Nuclear facilities immune to cyber attacks. Iran has been waging a cyber war since 2010 against malware such as Stuxnet, which is purported to have Israeli links. However, a senior military official has said that Iran possesses the technology to combat such malware, including two other espionage viruses, Stars and Doku. Boston.com)
  • First nuclear reactor approved in U.S. since 1978. Utility giant Southern Co. is set to gain permission to begin building two new nuclear reactors near Augusta, Georgia. However, the two reactions will likely not start a trend in new nuclear reactor construction, thanks to high demand for natural gas, which is cheaper. The two new reactors (along with two others in South Carolina) will incorporate the new AP1000 design, which improves upon reactor deficiencies demonstrated by the meltdown at Fukushima Daiichi, Japan. (CNET News)
  • US and North Korea to hold nuclear talks in Beijing.  The talks will be the third in a round of negotiations that began before the death of North Korea’s late leader, Kim Jon-il. The talks are aimed at negotiating an aid-for-disarmament agreement. The third round was canceled due to the former leader. the rescheduled talks will be the first chance to test Pyongyang’s strategy for and commitment to negotiation under the new leader, Kim Jon-un. (BBC Asia)
  • Japan Earthquake Anniversary: Nuclear Evacuees Scarred By Disaster One Year Later. As the one year anniversary of the March 2011 earthquake approaches, residents of towns surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi plant reflect on the trials associated with having to leave everything behind and treat former possessions as radiation traps. (Huffington Post)