Pakistan's government has stated it will not be the first to resume nuclear testing, countering President Trump's claims that Pakistan, along with Russia and China, has conducted nuclear tests. While North Korea has conducted nuclear detonations since the 1990s, Pakistan has maintained a unilateral moratorium on testing since 1998. The U.S. has not ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, and there is ambiguity about whether Trump's plan involves actual nuclear explosions or just testing delivery systems. Pakistan emphasizes its support for nuclear non-proliferation objectives despite not signing the treaty.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright clarified that the Trump administration is not planning to conduct nuclear explosions, but is only performing noncritical system tests on nuclear weapons.
A study finds a statistical link between mysterious sky lights, UAP sightings, and nuclear testing in the mid-20th century, suggesting these phenomena are real and potentially connected to nuclear activity, based on archival astronomical data and eyewitness reports.
A global network of sensors, originally created to detect unauthorized nuclear detonations, has unexpectedly led to the discovery of a previously unknown pod of pygmy blue whales in the Indian Ocean. The network, known as the International Monitoring System, consists of over 300 facilities worldwide that can detect various sounds and rumblings, including seismic waves, hydro-acoustic signals, infrasound, and radioactive particles. Researchers used the hydro-acoustic network of the system to analyze the songs of whale populations and identified a new population of pygmy blue whales. This discovery is significant for conservation efforts, as blue whales were hunted close to extinction in the 20th century. The network's founders likely did not anticipate all of its uses, but it has evolved into a valuable tool for monitoring both human and natural activities worldwide.
Since the first nuclear test explosion in 1945, at least eight countries have conducted a total of 2,056 nuclear tests, with the United States leading with over half of all tests. The Soviet Union conducted the second highest number of tests, followed by France, the United Kingdom, and China. India, Pakistan, and North Korea have also conducted nuclear tests. These tests have had devastating consequences, including genetic defects, high cancer rates, and long-term radiation contamination. The International Day against Nuclear Tests, observed on August 29, aims to raise awareness of the effects of nuclear weapons testing and promote a nuclear-weapons-free world.
