Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, August 13, 2026

Posted: 14th August 2026

August 13, 2026

A coordinated cyber operation affected more than 30 community water systems in Minnesota. (Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Why hackers targeting America’s water systems have the upper hand

“At the end of July, Minnesota detected hackers that had targeted around 36 municipal water systems in the state,” writes Justin Sherman. “Since then, at least 11 other states, including Michigan, Georgia, New Jersey, and South Dakota have discovered similar breaches, which the US government reportedly blames on the Iranian government.” Read more.

How the bomb failed to deliver security in Pakistan

As global interest in nuclear weapons surges, Pakistan’s recent conflict with India reveals their stark limits—failing to deter deep cross-border strikes while adding dangerous escalation risks. By quietly shifting the state narrative from its nuclear arsenal to conventional military power, Islamabad offers a clear warning to nations rethinking the bomb’s true security value, writes Sadia Tasleem. Read more.

AI helped me (almost) build a killer drone

Can artificial intelligence really help a person build a lethal drone? Reporter Matt Smith documented his experience finding out. “The creation of an autonomous weapon with equipment easily available to the public seems possible, but the process of doing so was—for me, at least—more difficult and stranger than expected.” This article is a collaboration between the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and Mother Jones. Read more and watch the video.

Upcoming event

Here’s what America’s last WWII atomic veterans want you to know

As the last surviving US servicemen who witnessed the aftermath of Hiroshima and Nagasaki reach their 100s, their harrowing firsthand accounts—and warnings against future nuclear conflict—offer a fading human bridge to the reality of atomic warfare. Victoria Kelly and Karin Tanabe interviewed three of the ten surviving “atomic veterans” for the 2025 PBS documentary Atomic Echoes: Untold Stories of World War II. In this piece, they share what they heard. Read more.

The political implications of Hiroshima’s scarred “maidens”

In May 1955, 25 Japanese women, all of whom had survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, were flown to the United States, writes Bulletin senior fellow Alex Wellerstein. The press called them the “Hiroshima Maidens,” and they were brought to the US for plastic surgery. Read more.

The Bulletin is hiring an Advancement Services Coordinator

The Bulletin is searching for an Advancement Services Coordinator to support the daily operations of the Advancement Services team including gift entry, event registration entry, acknowledgements and administrative support in implementation of department fundraising tasks. Apply here.

Apply to be a 2026 Bulletin Editorial Fellow

The Bulletin is seeking new editorial fellows in two subject areas: biosecurityand disruptive technologies/AI. Fellows are paid to write articles for the Bulletin with the support of a Bulletin editor. Applications are due August 28th. Apply here.

UPCOMING EVENT

Climate Desk Live: AI, Energy, and Our Fight for Democracy and a Healthy, Affordable Future

Save the date for a Climate Week 2026 Keynote Event, presented by Climate Desk Live partners Mother Jones, Capital B News, and the Bulletin, in collaboration with the Tishman Environment & Design Center at The New School. Register to attend.

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