Stephen Young
@atomicwonk.bsky.social
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
Reposted by Stephen Young
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
November 9, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
Reposted by Stephen Young
🚨 JUST IN: A newly declassified cable reinforces proliferation concerns about high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel, and reveals an urgent need for an international review of #HALEU use, writes Ed Lyman (@nucsafetyucs.bsky.social).
#uranium #enrichment #proliferation #IAEA #safeguards #nukesky
#uranium #enrichment #proliferation #IAEA #safeguards #nukesky
Declassified cable reinforces proliferation concerns about high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel
The declassified document reveals an urgent need for an international review of the proliferation risks of HALEU.
thebulletin.org
November 7, 2025 at 11:28 AM
🚨 JUST IN: A newly declassified cable reinforces proliferation concerns about high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel, and reveals an urgent need for an international review of #HALEU use, writes Ed Lyman (@nucsafetyucs.bsky.social).
#uranium #enrichment #proliferation #IAEA #safeguards #nukesky
#uranium #enrichment #proliferation #IAEA #safeguards #nukesky
My colleague @lauraegrego.bsky.social is doing a Reddit "Ask Me Anything (AMA) on #AHouseofDynamite. She is answering a house-full of compelling questions with aplomb. You can take a gander - and add your own questions - here:
From the askscience community on Reddit: AskScience AMA Series: A House of Dynamite, ask a nuclear weapons expert anything!
Explore this post and more from the askscience community
nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:22 PM
My colleague @lauraegrego.bsky.social is doing a Reddit "Ask Me Anything (AMA) on #AHouseofDynamite. She is answering a house-full of compelling questions with aplomb. You can take a gander - and add your own questions - here:
My brilliant @ucs.org colleague Chanese Forté interviews two other brilliant folks, Dr. Jan Beyea, and @nucsafetyucs.bsky.social, on the Trump administration's moves to undermine sensible, science-based limits on radiation exposure. Team Trump seems to wants to promote nuclear power at any cost.
Will Politics Put More People’s Health at Risk from Radiation Exposure?
The Trump administration's attack on the science underlying regulations that protect the public from the health risks of radiation exposure could affect many government rules.
blog.ucs.org
November 6, 2025 at 7:18 PM
My brilliant @ucs.org colleague Chanese Forté interviews two other brilliant folks, Dr. Jan Beyea, and @nucsafetyucs.bsky.social, on the Trump administration's moves to undermine sensible, science-based limits on radiation exposure. Team Trump seems to wants to promote nuclear power at any cost.
Reposted by Stephen Young
The end of the Oil Age won’t come from scarcity — it’ll come from irrelevance. Solar, wind, and batteries aren’t waiting for permission; they’re simply better.
When the new paradigm outperforms the old on cost, speed, and resilience, history doesn’t argue — it moves on. #EnergyTransition #BESS #EV
When the new paradigm outperforms the old on cost, speed, and resilience, history doesn’t argue — it moves on. #EnergyTransition #BESS #EV
November 4, 2025 at 4:50 AM
The end of the Oil Age won’t come from scarcity — it’ll come from irrelevance. Solar, wind, and batteries aren’t waiting for permission; they’re simply better.
When the new paradigm outperforms the old on cost, speed, and resilience, history doesn’t argue — it moves on. #EnergyTransition #BESS #EV
When the new paradigm outperforms the old on cost, speed, and resilience, history doesn’t argue — it moves on. #EnergyTransition #BESS #EV
Reposted by Stephen Young
1 in 8 Americans did not receive their monthly food benefits on Saturday, despite evidence and two judicial rulings affirming that the Trump administration can and should use the contingency funds for these benefits. Tell them to put politics aside and fund SNAP now. act.ucsusa.org/47y8Hta
Tell Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to Fund SNAP Now
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has the power to stop needless suffering. She can use contingency funds to ensure no American experiences a lapse in benefits just trying to buy food for their fam...
act.ucsusa.org
November 3, 2025 at 4:26 PM
1 in 8 Americans did not receive their monthly food benefits on Saturday, despite evidence and two judicial rulings affirming that the Trump administration can and should use the contingency funds for these benefits. Tell them to put politics aside and fund SNAP now. act.ucsusa.org/47y8Hta
Reposted by Stephen Young
At a time when the Trump administration is marketing its so-called “Golden Dome,” a proposed “impenetrable” missile shield around the US, the energy created by A House of Dynamite could be directed to a plan that not only won’t work but will make the problem worse.
Don't Get the Wrong Takeaway from 'A House of Dynamite'
Director Kathryn Bigelow's new nuclear thriller 'A House of Dynamite' hinges on the failure of the US anti-missile system.
inkstickmedia.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:15 PM
At a time when the Trump administration is marketing its so-called “Golden Dome,” a proposed “impenetrable” missile shield around the US, the energy created by A House of Dynamite could be directed to a plan that not only won’t work but will make the problem worse.
Excellent piece on Trump's call to resume nuclear testing in The Independent (and not just because is cites me & my @ucs.org colleague @dkspaulding.bsky.social).
BLUF for Trump, as duly noted by our @nuclearban.bsky.social colleague: Melissa Park: "This is no way to win the Nobel Peace Prize."
BLUF for Trump, as duly noted by our @nuclearban.bsky.social colleague: Melissa Park: "This is no way to win the Nobel Peace Prize."
What Trump’s nuclear weapons tests could mean for America and the world
Trump’s command risks a global arms race while the Doomsday clock ticks closer than ever to midnight, experts say
www.the-independent.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Excellent piece on Trump's call to resume nuclear testing in The Independent (and not just because is cites me & my @ucs.org colleague @dkspaulding.bsky.social).
BLUF for Trump, as duly noted by our @nuclearban.bsky.social colleague: Melissa Park: "This is no way to win the Nobel Peace Prize."
BLUF for Trump, as duly noted by our @nuclearban.bsky.social colleague: Melissa Park: "This is no way to win the Nobel Peace Prize."
Reposted by Stephen Young
Yesterday Trump posted a baffling message on his Truth Social site, claiming the U.S. would “immediately” resume the testing of nuclear weapons.
No one knew what he meant or why he was saying it.
My analysis of Trump’s nuclear confusion now up @MSNBC Daily.
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
No one knew what he meant or why he was saying it.
My analysis of Trump’s nuclear confusion now up @MSNBC Daily.
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Opinion | Trump is bringing back nuclear testing — and maybe an arms race
The U.S. stopped testing nuclear weapons over three decades ago and all other countries followed suit. If we resume testing, so will they.
www.msnbc.com
October 31, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Yesterday Trump posted a baffling message on his Truth Social site, claiming the U.S. would “immediately” resume the testing of nuclear weapons.
No one knew what he meant or why he was saying it.
My analysis of Trump’s nuclear confusion now up @MSNBC Daily.
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
No one knew what he meant or why he was saying it.
My analysis of Trump’s nuclear confusion now up @MSNBC Daily.
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
My @ucs.org colleague @gkucs.bsky.social has this deeply insightful piece on who would benefit most from a return to full-scale nuclear weapons testing, as Trump _seems_ to have said he has ordered. Bottom-line: China has the most to gain from new nuclear tests.
China Has the Most to Gain from New Nuclear Tests
President Trump announced the United States will resume nuclear testing, but if China follows suit, he may regret this decision.
blog.ucs.org
October 31, 2025 at 6:56 PM
My @ucs.org colleague @gkucs.bsky.social has this deeply insightful piece on who would benefit most from a return to full-scale nuclear weapons testing, as Trump _seems_ to have said he has ordered. Bottom-line: China has the most to gain from new nuclear tests.
Reposted by Stephen Young
The Union of Concerned Scientists (@ucs.org) is leading the charge to "Call out the Harm! Sound The Alarm!" regarding the Trump administration's relentless and harmful attack on scientific research & knowledge.
Here is a starter pack of scientists sounding that alarm.
go.bsky.app/RMo1iWM
Here is a starter pack of scientists sounding that alarm.
go.bsky.app/RMo1iWM
October 31, 2025 at 6:19 PM
The Union of Concerned Scientists (@ucs.org) is leading the charge to "Call out the Harm! Sound The Alarm!" regarding the Trump administration's relentless and harmful attack on scientific research & knowledge.
Here is a starter pack of scientists sounding that alarm.
go.bsky.app/RMo1iWM
Here is a starter pack of scientists sounding that alarm.
go.bsky.app/RMo1iWM
Reposted by Stephen Young
UCS staff had the opportunity to see A House of Dynamite in theaters and attend a talk-back with director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Noah Oppenheim. Hear their reactions and learn more about the real-life implications of the film:
🔗 act.ucsusa.org/3JzHFJQ
🔗 act.ucsusa.org/3JzHFJQ
October 30, 2025 at 3:38 PM
UCS staff had the opportunity to see A House of Dynamite in theaters and attend a talk-back with director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Noah Oppenheim. Hear their reactions and learn more about the real-life implications of the film:
🔗 act.ucsusa.org/3JzHFJQ
🔗 act.ucsusa.org/3JzHFJQ
My @ucs.org colleague @lauraegrego.bsky.social explains how #AHouseofDynamite has the better take on the flawed US anti-missile system than the Pentagon's inaccurate claims that it works. Bottom line: the system has not been shown to work under realistic conditions.
A House of Dynamite Gets It Right—But Here’s the Full Picture
The Pentagon is wrong to attack the movie for being inaccurate. We cannot rely on missile defense systems to protect us from nuclear destruction.
blog.ucs.org
October 31, 2025 at 1:49 PM
My @ucs.org colleague @lauraegrego.bsky.social explains how #AHouseofDynamite has the better take on the flawed US anti-missile system than the Pentagon's inaccurate claims that it works. Bottom line: the system has not been shown to work under realistic conditions.
Reposted by Stephen Young
Earlier this year, Nevada passed a (bipartisan!) resolution, AJR 13, opposing the resumption of nuclear testing. Nuclear testing comes with potential harms to people and the environment and NV doesn't want it. Here's what I told the state legislature about why any return to testing is a bad idea:
Putting Science to Work for Security: A Call to Prevent Nuclear Testing
Scientists have a role to play in protecting our collective future by speaking in opposition to a resumption of nuclear weapons testing.
blog.ucs.org
October 30, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Earlier this year, Nevada passed a (bipartisan!) resolution, AJR 13, opposing the resumption of nuclear testing. Nuclear testing comes with potential harms to people and the environment and NV doesn't want it. Here's what I told the state legislature about why any return to testing is a bad idea:
Reposted by Stephen Young
Murmurs from this admin about nuclear testing are not new, which is why earlier this year, we published this piece in the @thebulletin.org on why a rapid test as a show of force is a BAD, BAD idea.
Donald Trump has reportedly told the Pentagon to resume nuclear tests (though it's unclear if he refers to explosive or missile tests).
Here's a thread of relevant Bulletin articles, beginning with this 2025 piece by Sulgiye Park, Jennifer Knox, and @dkspaulding.bsky.social. ⬇️
Here's a thread of relevant Bulletin articles, beginning with this 2025 piece by Sulgiye Park, Jennifer Knox, and @dkspaulding.bsky.social. ⬇️
Why it would be a bad idea for the Trump administration to conduct a "rapid" nuclear test
The goal of conducting a fast-tracked nuclear test can only be political, not scientific. The United States has much to lose and little to gain from a new test.
thebulletin.org
October 30, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Murmurs from this admin about nuclear testing are not new, which is why earlier this year, we published this piece in the @thebulletin.org on why a rapid test as a show of force is a BAD, BAD idea.
Reposted by Stephen Young
Actually soon to be available for free for a limited time. Check back soon!
And finally my amazing former colleague Sulgi Park produced this important piece in @thebulletin.org with Rod Ewing on the environmental impacts of underground nuclear weapons testing. Well worth your time to read (but paywalled):
Environmental impacts of underground nuclear weapons testing
Between 1945 and 1996, more than 2,000 nuclear tests were conducted, three-quarters of which were underground. What is their environmental legacy?
thebulletin.org
October 30, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Actually soon to be available for free for a limited time. Check back soon!
Trump told the Pentagon to "start testing our Nuclear Weapons." He could either mean 1) full-scale, underground testing of nuclear bombs, something no country is doing, or 2) testing nuclear delivery vehicles, which Russia just did a LOT of, or 3) both. If #1 or #3, check these @ucs.org pubs out:
Why it would be a bad idea for the Trump administration to conduct a "rapid" nuclear test
The goal of conducting a fast-tracked nuclear test can only be political, not scientific. The United States has much to lose and little to gain from a new test.
thebulletin.org
October 30, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Trump told the Pentagon to "start testing our Nuclear Weapons." He could either mean 1) full-scale, underground testing of nuclear bombs, something no country is doing, or 2) testing nuclear delivery vehicles, which Russia just did a LOT of, or 3) both. If #1 or #3, check these @ucs.org pubs out:
Reposted by Stephen Young
I’ll give someone $1000 if they can find one factually correct statement in this post
October 30, 2025 at 1:37 AM
I’ll give someone $1000 if they can find one factually correct statement in this post
A good thread on Russia’s potential reaction should the US resume explosive testing of nuclear weapons, i.e., blowing up a nuclear bomb. As I said elsewhere, Trump may well mean testing US missiles i.e., the delivery vehicles for bombs
October 30, 2025 at 12:16 PM
A good thread on Russia’s potential reaction should the US resume explosive testing of nuclear weapons, i.e., blowing up a nuclear bomb. As I said elsewhere, Trump may well mean testing US missiles i.e., the delivery vehicles for bombs
Reposted by Stephen Young
The president has ordered the “Department of War” to immediately resume nuclear testing. Here’s a thread on what you need to know (1/n)
October 30, 2025 at 4:33 AM
The president has ordered the “Department of War” to immediately resume nuclear testing. Here’s a thread on what you need to know (1/n)
I'd argue that many if not most folks are NNSA are quite happy to not be testing nuclear weapons. Indeed, in his confirmation hearing, Trump's nominee to head the NNSA, Brandon Williams, declared that he would oppose a resumption of testing. He just took office last month.
NNSA when they hear they finally get to pop one off: HAHA FUCK YEAH!!! YES!!!!
NNSA when they realize they are technically on a very short time window to make this happen and they're not at all ready: well this fucking sucks. what the fuck
NNSA when they realize they are technically on a very short time window to make this happen and they're not at all ready: well this fucking sucks. what the fuck
October 30, 2025 at 3:57 AM
I'd argue that many if not most folks are NNSA are quite happy to not be testing nuclear weapons. Indeed, in his confirmation hearing, Trump's nominee to head the NNSA, Brandon Williams, declared that he would oppose a resumption of testing. He just took office last month.
Reposted by Stephen Young
Trump recently tweeted he was directing the DoD to start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis [with other countries] www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/u...
Trump Threatens to Resume Nuclear Weapons Testing, Minutes Before Xi Meeting
www.nytimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Trump recently tweeted he was directing the DoD to start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis [with other countries] www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/u...
Reposted by Stephen Young
Damn it, he's gotten around to nuclear weapons.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
So, an "equal basis" of testing nuclear weapons with Russia and China is probably about what we're doing now with some advantages (eg, access to fusion burn)...
1/2
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
So, an "equal basis" of testing nuclear weapons with Russia and China is probably about what we're doing now with some advantages (eg, access to fusion burn)...
1/2
Trump directs Pentagon to ‘immediately’ start testing US nuclear weapons
US president references China and Russia in Truth Social post shortly before meeting with President Xi Jinping
www.theguardian.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Damn it, he's gotten around to nuclear weapons.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
So, an "equal basis" of testing nuclear weapons with Russia and China is probably about what we're doing now with some advantages (eg, access to fusion burn)...
1/2
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
So, an "equal basis" of testing nuclear weapons with Russia and China is probably about what we're doing now with some advantages (eg, access to fusion burn)...
1/2
Reposted by Stephen Young
4/n
Kingston has great points.
Now w/alt text.
USA regularly tests land- & submarine- based ballistic missiles that are deployed with nuclear weapons.
Department of Energy has EXTREMELY LITTLE spare capacity to, say, add an explosive testing program.
gov chaos & shutdown are not helping.
Kingston has great points.
Now w/alt text.
USA regularly tests land- & submarine- based ballistic missiles that are deployed with nuclear weapons.
Department of Energy has EXTREMELY LITTLE spare capacity to, say, add an explosive testing program.
gov chaos & shutdown are not helping.
October 30, 2025 at 2:28 AM
4/n
Kingston has great points.
Now w/alt text.
USA regularly tests land- & submarine- based ballistic missiles that are deployed with nuclear weapons.
Department of Energy has EXTREMELY LITTLE spare capacity to, say, add an explosive testing program.
gov chaos & shutdown are not helping.
Kingston has great points.
Now w/alt text.
USA regularly tests land- & submarine- based ballistic missiles that are deployed with nuclear weapons.
Department of Energy has EXTREMELY LITTLE spare capacity to, say, add an explosive testing program.
gov chaos & shutdown are not helping.