Nuclear Weapons
88 episodes · Page 3 of 4
#1628: Is a Diplomat Enough to Stop an Iranian Nuclear Bomb?
Discover why the man tasked with monitoring Iran’s nuclear program isn't a scientist—and why that might be his greatest strength.
#1625: Why Israel Is Sabotaging Yellowcake, Not Just Reactors
Discover why hitting a yellowcake mill is more effective than breaking a centrifuge in the race to stop a nuclear program.
#1616: The Neutron Moderator: Why Heavy Water Matters
Explore the physics of heavy water and why the IDF targeted Iran’s Arak reactor to block the "second path" to a nuclear weapon.
#1496: Ten Days to a Bomb: The Reality of Iran's Nuclear Program
Is Iran’s "verbal commitment" to dismantle its nuclear program a real pivot or a dangerous delay tactic? We dive into the technical data.
#1467: Can a 25-Ton Door Stop a Mach 20 Missile?
As hypersonic missiles reach Mach 20, superpowers are heading back underground. Explore the high-tech engineering of the world’s deepest bunkers.
#1461: Faith as a Weapon: Debunking Iran’s Nuclear Fatwa
Was the nuclear fatwa a divine decree or a strategic lie? We examine the religious doctrines used to mask Iran's nuclear ambitions.
#1451: The Gilded Cage: The Human Capital of Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions
You can bomb a building, but not the equations in a physicist’s head. Meet the "brain trust" behind Iran’s nuclear program.
#1439: The Decision Stack: How We Master the Art of Choice
From Cold War near-misses to Bayesian networks, discover the frameworks that help us navigate complexity and make better decisions.
#1415: Radioactive Legacy: Maintaining the Aging Nuclear Triad
With the New START treaty expired, how does the US ensure its 70-year-old nuclear warheads still work without ever testing them?
#1414: The Gap Between Panic and Reality in Nuclear Security
A recent perimeter breach at the UK’s nuclear sub base sparked panic. We dive into why the deterrent is safer than a fence suggests.
#1396: The New Nuclear Shell Game
As global treaties expire, the sky becomes the new frontier for heavy ordnance. Discover the physics and strategy behind air-launched missiles.
#1394: The Fordow Gamble: Can Special Forces Seize Iranian Uranium?
Beyond the bunker-buster: Exploring the technical and tactical reality of a "smash and grab" operation for 60% enriched uranium.
#1303: The Paradox of Power: Israel’s New Global Reality
Israel has neutralized Iran's nuclear threat, but at a massive diplomatic cost. Explore the "Netanyahu Paradox" and a shifting world order.
#1195: The Blind Spot: When Radar Gaps Make Every Missile a Nuclear Threat
When radar goes dark, how do you tell a conventional missile from a nuclear one? Explore the terrifying physics of pre-launch ambiguity.
#1181: Can North Korea Survive High-Resolution Reality?
In an age of high-res satellites and digital leaks, the world’s most reclusive state is becoming its most transparent.
#1168: Building a Mental Model for Hypersonic War
How do you process a war that looks like science fiction? Explore the films and series that decode the physics and strategy of today’s conflict.
#1157: Unconstrained: The New Global ICBM Arms Race
With the New START treaty expired, the world enters a dangerous new era of unconstrained nuclear competition and rapid ICBM expansion.
#1119: Imagining the Fall of the Khamenei Dynasty
Following massive strikes on Iran and the death of Ali Khamenei, we analyze the military, political, and human fallout of a region in flames.
#1090: The Ghost Weapon: When the Only Evidence Is a Fused Microchip
Explore the science of EMPs, from continent-sized nuclear pulses to surgical microwave strikes that can disable a building without a single shot.
#1057: When Tactical Cosplay Fails: The Physics of Fallout Filters
Is your "tactical" gas mask a lifesaver or just a chin strap? Discover the physics of fallout and why industrial gear beats the marketing.
#1039: The Glowing Bullet: The Science of Hypersonic Re-entry
Why don’t missiles melt at Mach 20? Explore the physics of atmospheric re-entry and the materials that survive the "glowing bullet" paradox.
#1017: The Nuclear Shell Game: Can We Ever Verify Neutralization?
Beyond the missile strikes, a hidden war persists. Discover why verifying nuclear neutralization is the ultimate intelligence nightmare.
#1013: When the Doomsday Plane Lands at LAX
A rare sighting at LAX reveals the hidden world of nuclear deterrence, from the E-4B "Doomsday Plane" to the secrets of the Nuclear Football.
#1012: When a Missile Test Is a Diplomatic Message
Explore the strategic signaling behind the GT-255 launch and why the U.S. relies on 50-year-old technology to maintain global security.