An evolving U.S. national policy aims to create a system of nuclear forensics, in which scientific analysis could quickly identify the source of a nuclear attack or attempted attack.
A nuclear device assembled by terrorists is likely to have a "relatively low yield," much smaller than the 10-kiloton weapon dropped on Hiroshima at the end of World War II, according to the chief nuclear scientist with the U.S. Homeland Security Department. Nevertheless, even a small nuclear explosion would probably be viewed as a "success" by any nonstate actor.
Adequate planning for the aftermath of an act of nuclear terrorism could save hundreds of thousands of lives, but nearly five years after the attacks of Sept. 11 those contingency plans still do not exist, according to a report released last week by the Physicians for Social Responsibility.
President Bush and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia announced a new global program to track potential nuclear terrorists, detect and lock up bomb-making materials and coordinate their responses if terrorists obtain a weapon, according to administration officials who have negotiated the deal.
The Bush administration's plan to deploy a high-tech fuel to power a new generation of nuclear reactors worldwide has a potentially explosive problem: It is too easy for terrorists to grab and turn it into a nuclear bomb.
Graham Allison argues that the United States needs to establish "a robust nuclear forensics program" in order to ensure effective deterrence against nuclear terrorism.
A chilling look at the effect a low-yield, "Hiroshima"-class nuclear explosion in downtown Washington, D.C. would have on the United States.
The Institute for Strategic and International Studies said regional troubles, failures of the Nonproliferation Treaty, black market supply networks and poor leadership could lead to a terrorist group acquiring a nuclear bomb.
Proliferation experts testified that not enough attention is being paid to developing better nuclear detection devices to defend against nuclear terrorism.
Experts argue that there are still significant technical and logistical barriers that discourage terrorists from developing weapons of mass destruction.