Beneath the Nevada desert, in tunnels once used for full-scale nuclear tests, scientists are quietly studying the aging core of America’s nuclear arsenal. While the U.S. hasn’t detonated a nuclear bomb since 1992, new experiments—using high-powered X-rays and particle bombardment—aim to keep its stockpile reliable without breaking the global testing moratorium. But as tensions rise, with Russia and China expanding their test sites, some U.S. officials are calling for a return to live detonations. The question now: Will the world’s nuclear powers hold the line, or will testing resume?
For the full, in-depth story, Geoff Brumfiel with NPR has it linked below.
