The Federation of American Scientists is excited to announce the arrival of @areddie.bsky.social as a Senior Advisor to some of our work, in collaboration with @futureoflife.org, at the intersection of emerging technologies, global security, and risk reduction.

Globally, in 1986 eight states controlled an estimated 64,449 nuclear warheads. Today, nine states control an estimated 12,200 warheads (including retired warheads awaiting dismantlement)—with the United States and Russia possessing 87 percent of those weapons. That’s an 81% reduction over 40 years.

Community colleges are untapped engines for economic mobility: they provide access to learning, jobs, and opportunities to those who are otherwise left out. The surprise $5M gift to some St. Charles Community Colleges is worth more than its monetary value.

"A world where we're living under constant threat of nuclear use isn't a world we have to accept." — @mknight.bsky.social | Nuclear Information Project, @scientistsorg.bsky.social

Project development barriers slow clean energy deployment. Political barriers grind it to a screeching halt. To address the climate crisis, rein in utility bills, and deliver on clean energy, we need to first address those barriers. READ MORE 👉 fas.org/publication/...

In 2020, @sgrodriques.bsky.social and @adammarblestone.bsky.social came to us with an idea: what if we invested in independent start-up-style labs to fill in critical research gaps that the current landscape doesn't address

👀 NSF TIP just unveiled an ambitious new "Tech Labs" program that would put big $ behind independent, goal-oriented, team-based research. "Funding for Tech Labs beyond Phase 0 is expected to range from $10 million to $50 million per team per year." sam.gov/opp/7332ade9...

In most years, the President's Management Agenda should make your eyes glaze over. But his year's PMA is eye-popping in ambition and subject. @lorenraeds.bsky.social and @gabemenchaca.bsky.social break down the good, the bad, and the bizarre ⤵️ fas.org/publication/...

Our latest Nuclear Notebook is public: The changing nuclear landscape in Europe. It provides our overview of the nuclear situation, with focus on non-strategic nukes. All the players are increasing their nuclear postures. Check details here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10....

Thank you to all those who donated on Giving Tuesday and throughout the past week. Our 80-year legacy of service through science and evidence-based policy would not be possible without you.

Had so much fun creating my first ever ArcGIS StoryMap based on a report by the amazing @christinaisa.bsky.social that breaks down for aspiring analysts how to do satellite imagery analysis of nuclear sites. Check out the StoryMap at the link in the post below!⬇️⬇️

Satellite imagery has long served as a tool for observing on-the-ground activity worldwide, especially when it comes to nuclear technology. Here's how experts like Christina Krawec and @mknight.bsky.social assess and analyze imagery, using China's CFR-600 as a case study. fas.org/initiative/a...

Honored to talk to WSJ about nuclear developments in Europe, including Russia’s nuclear-sharing arrangement in Belarus. www.wsj.com/video/series...

Despite being taxpayer-funded, organ procurement organizations operate with virtually no accountability. Taking advantage of the generosity of the American people should not be rewarded. (🔗statement in reply⤵️)

Despite being taxpayer-funded, organ procurement organizations operate with virtually no accountability. Taking advantage of the generosity of the American people should not be rewarded. (🔗statement in reply⤵️)

We were asked to name and describe one state or local policy that should be tried across the country. Our Director of State and Local Initiatives Kate Burns answered: get rid of minimum parking requirements for new construction.

Another one in the books with @futureoflife.org for our series on AI and its convergence with global risks. Sen. Mark Kelly, @morelle.house.gov, and Kathy Hicks kicked off our AI x Military Integration event, setting the stage for a day of dynamic and edifying conversations.

"We are in the midst of a national organ harvesting crisis, and corruption within taxpayer-funded organ procurement organizations is the problem." FAS Senior Fellow Jennifer Erickson just testified before Congress to hold corrupt OPOs accountable. Here's (just some of) what she told them 🧵👇

✍ 74 policy memos, 69 blog posts (nice), 17 reports, 49 other pubs 🤳 425 tweets, 230 linkedin posts, 140 instagram posts (including 45 videos) 👀 1,199,000 website views The 2025 @scientistsorg.bsky.social Annual Report is now live✨

"We are in the midst of a national organ harvesting crisis, and corruption within taxpayer-funded organ procurement organizations is the problem." FAS Senior Fellow Jennifer Erickson just testified before Congress to hold corrupt OPOs accountable. Here's (just some of) what she told them 🧵👇

This year’s Red Sky Summit was an opportunity to further consider what the role of fire tech can and should be – and how public policy can support its development, scaling, and application, writes Jessica Blackband. fas.org/publication/...

Last week DOE unveiled a sweeping reorganization aimed at "unleashing American energy dominance." When you look at the details, the reorg risks weakening the American innovation engine responsible for basic science and deployment. fas.org/publication/...

The Department of Energy is one of the most significant global supporters of physical science research. I joined my colleagues at the @scientistsorg.bsky.social Addy Smith, Alice Wu, Zoë Brouns, and Arjun Krishnaswami to offer our perspective and warnings on DOE’s reorganization.

We came out of the longest shutdown in history and we are all worse for it. Who won the shutdown fight? It doesn’t matter – Americans lost. And there is a chance we run it all back again in a few short months. fas.org/publication/...

Promising examples of progress are emerging from the Boston metropolitan area that show the power of partnership between researchers, government officials, practitioners, and community-based organizations to tackle the extreme heat crisis. fas.org/publication/...

Recent @sirenspod.bsky.social listeners on our episode on taxes will love this new piece from Merici Vinton and Thushan Amarasiriwardena on creating a product-driven government fas.org/publication/...

Americans trade stocks instantly, but spend 13 hours on tax forms. They send cash by text, but wait weeks for IRS responses. The IRS ranks dead last in citizen satisfaction. The problem isn’t just paperwork — it’s how the government builds. We can fix that. fas.org/publication/...

I’m hiring a Senior Manager for AI Safety & Security Policy at FAS. You’ll help turn technical insights about frontier AI risks into real policy outcomes—spotting windows for impact, shaping proposals decision-makers can use, and working directly with researchers + government.

Register for the AI x Military Integration reception on November 19th, in partnership with @futureoflife.org, to learn more about AI military integration and connect with experts across fields who are working on this issue. 🔗 luma.com/2zkutj53

The health impacts of #climate change are coming and we are not ready, say panelists at #ACHJSummit. "Many physicians do not have training in dealing with extreme heat," says Grace Wickerson of @scientistsorg.bsky.social. "Do we have a health system that's ready for this? No we do not."

More broadly, I'd love to get your thoughts on the post I have up this morning on next steps for the evidence-based policymaking movement! fas.org/publication/...

Attending #2025APPAM? Come check out my session this Saturday where I'm partnering with colleagues to talk about the future role of evidence synthesis and AI in powering better policy- and decision-making.

🚨 New @scientistsorg.bsky.social report by Igor Morić + me tackling a critical question: Given that on-site nuclear arms control verification between the US + Russia is unlikely in the near-term, could a cooperative use of remote sensing tools act as a replacement? fas.org/publication/...

With the impending expiration of New START, it is vital to prevent arms control progress from backsliding. If on-site inspections are impossible, then "Cooperative Technical Means" can fill that gap. ✍️ @mattkorda.bsky.social + Igor Morić 🔗 fas.org/publication/inspections-without-inspectors/

"Completely ignoring the interconnected threats posed by climate change-related impacts and environmental pollution is not just a scientific oversight; it is a public health failure," writes @lisapatel.bsky.social of @docsforclimate.bsky.social and Grace Wickerson of @scientistsorg.bsky.social:

Calling AI policy wonks: help us build the Source Code of a fair and trustworthy future. We're looking for your policy proposals that identify specific fairness harms associated with AI and propose actionable policy solutions at the federal, state, and local levels. fas.org/accelerator/...

PERSPECTIVE: By ignoring climate change as a threat multiplier, MAHA is missing the forest for the trees and will unnecessarily put the lives of millions of children at risk, argue @lisapatel.bsky.social of @docsforclimate.bsky.social and Grace Wickerson of @scientistsorg.bsky.social.

Our team is honored to have received a $500k grant to analyze the capabilities of emerging and disruptive technologies to track and trail mobile nuclear launch platforms, with our friends at @carnegiecorp.bsky.social and @basicint.bsky.social Learn more ⤵️ fas.org/publication/...

The good news: the vast majority of the 100,000s of datasets produced by the federal government are still alive, and have so far escaped mutilation or termination. The bad news: all federal datasets are currently at risk of death by a thousand cuts.

USAF test-launched an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM into the Pacific. Missile delivered single Mk21 reentry vehicle. www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article... This is the missile military lied could not be life-extended but now has to be extended through 2050: www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10....

Want to learn about how AI is being integrated into military decision-making and connect with experts working on this issue? Register for our reception on November 19th, in partnership with the @futureoflife.org 🔗 luma.com/2zkutj53

Only 5% of public health officials feel “very prepared” to handle the escalating impacts of extreme weather. And 61% are without a lifeline: their preparations for extreme weather rely on federal funds that are now in flux. Learn more⤵️ fas.org/publication/...

Though it’s premature to breathe a sigh of relief – the future of federal data remains in jeopardy – we thought Halloween was an opportune time to ask, which federal datasets have left this mortal realm? Here's what we found. fas.org/publication/...

Nuclear Information Project Senior Research Associates + Nuclear Notebook co-authors @mknight.bsky.social and @elianajjohns.bsky.social break down the President's interesting post about a return to nuclear testing line by line. 📍 www.instagram.com/reel/DQegwky...

Global nuclear warhead inventories, 2025 Russia🇷🇺 4309 United States🇺🇸 3700 China🇨🇳 600 France🇫🇷 290 United Kingdom🇬🇧 225 India🇮🇳 180 Pakistan🇵🇰 170 Israel🇮🇱 90 North Korea🇰🇵 50

Extreme weather events are rewriting the rules. So state health officials are rewriting their playbooks. In town for #APHA2025? Join FAS and STAT Network in discussion with state public health officials to learn how they're addressing compounding challenges. 🔗 www.eventbrite.com/e/protecting...

🧛‍♀️ Is the chill you've felt lately due to missing federal datasets? That is, federal data you have previously used that has disappeared. We invite you to nominate a dearly departed federal dataset, data element, or tool that has been terminated. 🔗⤵️

Trust in government is not generic–the way Americans encounter and engage government systems can vary significantly. What would it look like if trust in key functions (workforce, data, CX, procurement) hit a breaking point? how would we know? fas.org/publication/...