Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, November 24th, 2025
Posted: 24th November 2025
November 24, 2025
The area of Mars known as the Jezero Crater that the Mars Perseverance rover investigated for signs of ancient life. The rover traversed the trail of an ancient river that can be seen flowing down the 2,000-foot crater rim into what scientists believe was a lake billions of years ago. (NASA/ESA/JPL-Caltech)
Black swans from the Red Planet—Could NASA bring back “mirror life” from Mars?
NASA and the European Space Agency plan to bring samples back from Mars. Could they harbor a type of life that scientists warn could trigger mass extinctions on Earth? NASA mathematician Bill Taber investigates. Read more.
How ‘Big Car’ poses an existential threat to humanity
Since the invention of the car, somewhere between 54 and 69 million people have died in traffic crashes. Taking into account the effects of traffic-related air pollution and lead exposure, “cars have killed somewhere between 61 and 83 million people,” writes Bulletin editor Jessica McKenzie. McKenzie interviewed David Obst about his new book, Saving Ourselves From Big Car. Read more.
How Holtec International became an expanding (and controversial) nuclear power
Holtec International’s history of overpromising and underdelivery raises a question, writes Matt Smith: Is this who we should trust with the future of nuclear energy? Read more.
Post-truth disasters: We’re not ready for nuclear war on social media
Risks of a serious crisis are rising, and the information environment has never been worse, writes Andrew Facini. Read more.
BULLETIN VIDEO
Kronos Quartet at the Nobel Laureate Assembly Declaration for the Prevention of Nuclear War
Last week, the Bulletin announced Kronos Quartet as its first-ever Doomsday Clock Artist-in-Residence. This summer, Kronos participated in and performed at the Nobel Laureate Assembly for the Prevention of Nuclear War. The full concert is now available on YouTube. Watch here.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Ukraine may soon find itself before a very difficult choice. Either the loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner. Either the difficult 28 points, or an extremely hard winter — the hardest one — and further risks.”
—Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine, “Ukraine Faces ‘Difficult Choice’ Over U.S. Plan to End War, Zelensky Says,” The New York Times
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