Nuclear weapons tests were once a regular occurrence, but most countries haven’t tested in decades, following the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in 1996. Now, that moratorium might be nearing an end. Politicians, including U.S. President Donald Trump, have called for tests to resume.
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was signed but not ratified by the U.S. and a few other holdouts, which means the treaty hasn’t come into force. Up to now, most countries have abided by its provisions anyway. The last nuclear test was performed in 2017 by North Korea, the only country to test a weapon this century.
U.S. scientists currently certify the capabilities of nuclear weapons using a variety of experiments and computer simulations. As part of a program called Stockpile Stewardship, these studies provide evidence that the weapons work — no nuclear blasts needed.
To read more, click here.