Nuclear security

It Takes a Nuclear Weapons Lab to Find a Nuclear Weapons Lab


When North Korea tested its sixth nuclear weapon in September, instruments all over the world—and in orbit—were taking measurements to determine what kind of blast it was. How big? What materials were used?

Few people know that a whole branch of science is devoted to answering these questions—the science of nuclear nonproliferation—and its importance to both national and global security is critical. Simply put, nonproliferation science develops the technologies to help stop the spread of nuclear weapons, materials, and technologies. It encompasses an array of disciplines, including nuclear safeguards to verify that nuclear materials are secure and not diverted to a weapons program, and proliferation detection, such as nuclear explosion monitoring, which continuously scans the atmosphere and tracks seismologic events to make sure no one is testing nuclear weapons.

Nuclear nonproliferation efforts have contributed to slowing the spread of nuclear weapons around the world. But it’s not easy—as the recent tests by North Korea remind us—and will continue to require a global commitment and cutting-edge science to ensure its success.