Nuclear weapons testing is harmful — there’s no case for a restart

Nature

February 25, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Nuclear weapons testing poses significant risks to human health, ecosystems, and international security, making the idea of restarting such tests deeply concerning. Recent developments, including the expiration of the New START treaty in February 2026, have heightened fears of a potential resurgence of nuclear-arms proliferation. Russia has already hinted at expanding its nuclear capabilities, while the United States has seen renewed interest in resuming testing under the Biden administration. These actions come despite decades of scientific evidence highlighting the catastrophic consequences of nuclear tests. Historically, nuclear testing in the 1950s and 1960s led to severe environmental damage and health crises. For instance, atmospheric tests released radioactive materials like strontium-90 and plutonium-239, which contaminated vast areas and caused long-term harm to ecosystems and vulnerable populations, including Indigenous communities. Studies showed that children born after testing had higher levels of these radioactive isotopes in their bodies, leading to the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty, which banned atmospheric tests. However, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), signed but not ratified by all nuclear powers, remains the best hope for preventing further harm. The current global security landscape is more precarious than at any point since the Cold War. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved its Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds to midnight in January 2026, reflecting humanity's proximity to self-destruction. Experts warn that a new arms race could lead to renewed testing, with Russia already claiming to have conducted two tests in 2024. Such actions disregard the well-documented dangers of nuclear fallout and its lasting impact on global health and ecosystems. For scientists, this moment calls for urgent action. Their expertise was instrumental in ending previous rounds of testing, but their voices are increasingly marginalized as political tensions rise. The scientific community must advocate for continued dialogue among nuclear powers to limit arsenals and prevent a new era of destructive testing. The stakes could not be higher: the resumption of nuclear tests would

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Originally published on Nature on 2/25/2026