Geoff Brumfiel

Cygnus is a smaller version of Scorpius. It fires x-rays of plutonium that's inside a spherical steel container about the size of a mini-fridge.

Tim Beller is directing the next test, codenamed Knob Hill.

Tim Beller is directing the next test, codenamed Knob Hill.

Tim Beller is directing the next test, codenamed Knob Hill.

In a few months inside this vessel, scientists will blow up a tiny quantity of plutonium using chemical explosives. It's designed to simulate a nuclear detonation. But again, this test will be subcritical. The U.S. government says there will not be a runaway nuclear chain reaction.

In a few months inside this vessel, scientists will blow up a tiny quantity of plutonium using chemical explosives. It's designed to simulate a nuclear detonation. But again, this test will be subcritical. The U.S. government says there will not be a runaway nuclear chain reaction.

In a few months inside this vessel, scientists will blow up a tiny quantity of plutonium using chemical explosives. It's designed to simulate a nuclear detonation. But again, this test will be subcritical. The U.S. government says there will not be a runaway nuclear chain reaction.

No, actually, it isn't. In fact, I heard again and again from nuclear weapons scientists on this trip. There is no technical need to test right now.

No, actually, it isn't. In fact, I heard again and again from nuclear weapons scientists on this trip. There is no technical need to test right now.

No, actually, it isn't. In fact, I heard again and again from nuclear weapons scientists on this trip. There is no technical need to test right now.

We'd start testing again for exactly the same reason we stopped testing, and that's politics. Nuclear weapons have a new role in the world. You know, Russia is developing some wild new nuclear weapons designs. China is expanding its nuclear arsenal. And into all of this comes the Trump administration. Now, Project 2025, which is sort of a conservative blueprint for the government. It says the U.S.

We'd start testing again for exactly the same reason we stopped testing, and that's politics. Nuclear weapons have a new role in the world. You know, Russia is developing some wild new nuclear weapons designs. China is expanding its nuclear arsenal. And into all of this comes the Trump administration. Now, Project 2025, which is sort of a conservative blueprint for the government. It says the U.S.

We'd start testing again for exactly the same reason we stopped testing, and that's politics. Nuclear weapons have a new role in the world. You know, Russia is developing some wild new nuclear weapons designs. China is expanding its nuclear arsenal. And into all of this comes the Trump administration. Now, Project 2025, which is sort of a conservative blueprint for the government. It says the U.S.

should be ready to test another nuclear weapon if it needs to. Trump's former national security advisor has gone further. He's written that the U.S. should test another nuclear weapon.

should be ready to test another nuclear weapon if it needs to. Trump's former national security advisor has gone further. He's written that the U.S. should test another nuclear weapon.

should be ready to test another nuclear weapon if it needs to. Trump's former national security advisor has gone further. He's written that the U.S. should test another nuclear weapon.

First things first, we should say underground testing is safer than atmospheric testing, but that doesn't mean it's totally safe. Here's Jamie Kwong with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

First things first, we should say underground testing is safer than atmospheric testing, but that doesn't mean it's totally safe. Here's Jamie Kwong with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

First things first, we should say underground testing is safer than atmospheric testing, but that doesn't mean it's totally safe. Here's Jamie Kwong with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

And historically, at least, testing's been done in some pretty marginalized communities, places in rural Nevada, rural Mississippi, the Aleutian Islands. These are communities where the population just doesn't have that much political power. But there's also another way in which the resumption of nuclear testing could hurt the U.S. strategically.