Help Wanted: Nuclear Weapons Courier, Serious Inquiries Only
Have you ever wanted to guard nuclear weapons as they crisscross the United States? Well, the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration has a job opening for precisely that. And it’s a great reminder that U.S. roads carry some pretty interesting cargo, even if it’s all kept very hush-hush. The job posting from NNSA, … Continued
China Wants Hefty Fines For Viral Video Creators Who Binge Food and Drinks
Lawmakers in China are considering new legislation that would impose fines against anyone who creates videos where people eat large quantities of food or binge drinks, according to a new report from Chinese state media outlet China News. The proposed media rule, part of broader legislation to discourage food waste, would also allow restaurants in … Continued
The Great Captain Planet/Hitler Face-off of 1995
The cartoons of the 1980s produced some of the most iconic villains of all time: Skeletor. Cobra Commander. Megatron. Shredder. How could a less-intriguing ‘90s cartoon like Captain Planet and the Planeteers ever hope to create bad guys so memorable, so significant as to compare with these pillars of animated evil? Turns out it couldn’t… … Continued
Man With Sole Authority to Launch Nuclear Weapons Retweets Random Fistfight
President Donald Trump retweeted a random fistfight over the weekend in an attempt to make fun of people who wear masks during the pandemic, the latest sign that Trump is basically a bored troll who just so happens to have the sole authority to launch America’s many nuclear weapons. Trump, as everyone knows at this … Continued
Old Nukes, Hot Dog Toasters, and Dr. Phil: Best Gizmodo Stories of the Week
As we all try to adjust to our current new reality, I have some thoughts to share with you all. I have come to realize that it is likely that for the next few months, or year, we will have to learn to live with dry, papery hands. At least, that’s what my hands feel … Continued
How Do We Know the Nukes Still Work?
Scientists at U.S. National Laboratories are still testing nuclear weapons among the mountains, desert, and chaparral of the American West. High-tech machinery and warehouses stocked with supercomputer processors take data on warheads and explosions—yes, there are still explosions, which crack like rifle fire on schedule in the distance. But there are no nuclear explosions. Though … Continued
North Korea Test-Fires Cruise Missiles Just to Heighten Everyone’s Anxiety Right Now
North Korea test-fired multiple short-range missiles early Tuesday morning, according to several reports, serving as a great reminder that there are plenty of other things that could destroy humanity beyond the coronavirus pandemic. Nuclear war between the U.S. and North Korea, by choice or by accident, is still always a possibility. The cruise missiles were … Continued
U.S. Space Force Conducts Its First Nuclear-Capable Missile Test
The U.S. tested a nuclear-capable missile overnight, launching an unarmed Minuteman III from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, according to the 30th Space Wing, which is now part of the newly organized United States Space Force. The intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was launched at 12:33 am local time (3:33 am ET) and traveled roughly … Continued
Hyper-Detailed Maps Reveal Seafloor Craters From Bikini Atoll Nuclear Tests
Seafloor mapping has revealed craters beneath the Pacific Ocean from nuclear weapons testing, scientists report. From 1946 to 1958, the United States dropped 23 atomic bombs over Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean, including the famous Operation Crossroads and Castle Bravo tests. A team based at the University of Delaware used sonar to survey how … Continued
No, China Did Not Secretly Detonate a Nuke in the South China Sea to Signal the Start of WWIII
The Chinese government has almost certainly not secretly detonated a tactical nuclear weapon in the South China Sea to send a warning signal to the United States, experts told Gizmodo, regardless of widespread claims to the contrary on social media. The source of this particular rumor appears to be Hal Turner, a far-right New Jersey … Continued
Report: Nikki Haley Used Unclassified Email System During North Korean ICBM Crisis Because She Forgot Her Password
In July 2017, former South Carolina governor and the Trump administration’s former ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley used a government system for unclassified information to discuss North Korean rocket launches because she forgot her password to the secure one, the Daily Beast reported on Wednesday. At the time, North Korea was testing Hwasong-14 … Continued
Netflix and Spotify Might Be Required to Issue Emergency Alerts From the Government Just Like TV and Radio
Streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify might be required to issue emergency alerts from the government if U.S. lawmakers have their way. TV and radio stations operating in the U.S. are required by law to issue emergency warnings, like the infamous fake missile alert for Hawaii issued in early 2018, but lawmakers want to … Continued
U.S. Military Will Stop Using Floppy Disks to Operate Its Nuclear Weapons System
The systems used to control the United States arsenal of nuclear weapons rely on outdated computers. But the Department of Defense is updating at least one part of the archaic technology—the floppy disk storage systems. A 60 Minutes segment in 2014 presented a tour of a nuclear control center, revealing to the public that the … Continued
Study: Nuclear War Between India and Pakistan Would Trigger Global Starvation
In addition to killing as many as 125 million people, a nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan would unleash mass starvation around the world due to the ensuing climate impacts, according to a disturbing new study. As if we need to be reminded of the horrors of nuclear war, new research published today in Science … Continued
U.S. Air Force Tests Unarmed Nuclear Missile Following North Korea’s Latest Missile Launch
The U.S. military launched an unarmed nuclear-capable missile from Vandenberg Air Force Base at 4:13 am ET/1:13am PT this morning, right on the heels of North Korea’s latest missile test overnight. U.S.-based missile tests are scheduled months, if not years, in advance, but the timing is one hell of a coincidence. The Air Force’s Minuteman … Continued
Mystery Russia Explosion Reportedly Happened During Mission to Recover Nuclear-Powered Missile from Ocean
U.S. intelligence has reportedly determined that a mysterious blast that occurred on Russia’s northern coast earlier this month took place during a mission to reclaim a nuclear-powered missile. Last week Russia signaled that it had no interest in shedding light on the August 8 explosion that killed at least five people. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister … Continued