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FAS
Blog
Hollywood and the Bomb

Among the lesser known consequences of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 75 years ago was that it triggered a race between Hollywood movie studios MGM and Paramount to bring the story of the atomic bomb — or at least some commercialized version of it — to the American public as a major motion picture. […]

07.12.20 | 3 min read
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Global Risk
Blog
Weekly COVID-19 Disinformation Report for July 20: Masks, microchips, Michigan, and misinformation

Key Highlights Key Trends Ongoing conspiracy theories regarding mask use A video on Twitter claiming that the metal wire in store-bought face masks are 5G antennas received 1.3 million views and 14.7K Retweets and Comments. Another video followed the same pattern of conspiracy theories denouncing mask use as harmful or a systematic and “deep state” effort to control the public. Other […]

07.07.20 | 5 min read
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FAS
Blog
With Care, Research Labs Can Reopen, JASONs Say

University research laboratories that have been shuttered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic can safely reopen if they adopt measures needed to reduce vulnerability to the disease, according to a new report from the JASON science advisory panel. “A ramp up will take months and requires careful adherence to rules and processes,” the report said. “Researchers […]

07.02.20 | 2 min read
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FAS
Blog
Trends in US Military Deaths, and More from CRS

Of the 17,645 deaths of U.S. military personnel in all countries since 2006, a full 24% of them were “self-inflicted,” according to updated data from the Department of Defense as reported by the Congressional Research Service. “Self-inflicted” here means suicide as well as death due to alcohol or substance abuse. See Trends in Active-Duty Military Deaths […]

07.02.20 | 1 min read
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Environment
Press release
Federation of American Scientists calls on United and American to reverse their decision to fully book planes

Washington, DC, June 30, 2020 Mr. Doug ParkerChairman and Chief Executive OfficerAmerican Airlines Mr. Scott KirbyChief Executive OfficerUnited Airlines Dear Mr. Parker and Mr. Kirby, As representative of an organization dedicated to a safe and more secure world, I write to express my strong concerns about your recent decisions to return to booking your airlines’ […]

07.01.20 | 2 min read
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Global Risk
Press release
Hans Kristensen: Great Immigrant, Great American

The Federation of American Scientists is proud to announce that Hans Kristensen, Nuclear Information Project director, is honored as a Carnegie Corporation of New York 2020 Great Immigrant, Great American. The Great Immigrant, Great American initiative is a tribute to its namesake, the Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, and recognizes American immigrants who have […]

07.01.20 | 3 min read
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Environment
Blog
US vaccine manufacturing capacity assessed at Senate HELP Committee hearing

At the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing on Tuesday, Members of Congress and witnesses evaluated whether the U.S. will be able to manufacture enough COVID-19 vaccines to protect the population, as well as be able to distribute them equitably. Vaccine manufacturers are racing to increase their capacity to produce what will likely be billions […]

06.26.20 | 4 min read
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Global Risk
Blog
The State Department’s Compliance Report Plays the Blame Game, Despite Offering Little Evidence

The Trump administration clearly sees the Compliance Report as a tool to provide justification for shedding treaties.

06.24.20 | 11 min read
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FAS
Blog
Crisis of Credibility in Secrecy Policy

Obsolete secrecy procedures and growing political abuse have left the national security classification system in a state of disarray and dysfunction. Most government agencies “still rely on antiquated information security management practices,” according to a new annual report from the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO). “These practices have not kept pace with the volume of […]

06.22.20 | 4 min read
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Emerging Technology
Report
Temporary Work Visa Holders in the United States, By the Numbers

The Trump administration is expected to unveil an executive action in the near future that would significantly restrict temporary (“nonimmigrant”) work visa categories.  While there are multiple public data sets available from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State relevant to these visa categories, they are unfortunately not sufficient to answer these […]

06.12.20 | 1 min read
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Environment
Blog
Much-needed supplies for responding to COVID-19 remain limited

Unlike countries such as South Korea, New Zealand, or Germany, the US has not controlled the spread of COVID-19 in a coordinated fashion, and the nation is in danger of a second surge of cases. Some experts already see indicators of the second surge. For instance, COVID-19 hospitalizations rose sharply in several states after Memorial […]

06.11.20 | 4 min read
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Environment
Blog
The Senate Finance Committee questioned FDA officials about US policies on hydroxychloroquine, the World Health Organization, and supply chain security

The coronavirus has killed over 108,000 people, and infected millions, in the US alone. As some areas of the country begin to lift infection control precautions, it is critical for the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic to improve. An important part of this process is Congressional oversight of the Administration’s response to COVID-19, and during […]

06.05.20 | 4 min read
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