The Atlantic's August Issue: "Eighty Years on the Edge," Examining Eight Decades of Life in the Atomic Age

The Atlantic's August issue, titled "Eighty Years on the Edge," reflects on life in the Atomic Age over the last eight decades. It includes essays from key writers like Jeffrey Goldberg and Tom Nichols, exploring critical issues surrounding nuclear weapons, the singular power to launch them, and the geopolitical landscape influenced by nuclear capabilities. The issue's striking cover features a historical bomb test image, reminding readers of the destructive potential inherent in these weapons. Goldberg stresses the urgency of understanding and addressing our inadequacies in managing nuclear weapons to avoid catastrophic failures.

"We are living through one of the more febrile periods of the nuclear era... the main challenge of the 80 years since the Trinity atomic test has been that we do not possess the cognitive, spiritual, and emotional capabilities necessary to successfully manage nuclear weapons without the risk of catastrophic failure."

"The contours of World War III are visible in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with Russia aided by Iran and North Korea and opposed by Europe and the United States."

Read at The Atlantic