Strategic nuclear weapons are targeted against civilian, industrial, and military infrastructure, while tactical nuclear weapons are intended for battlefield use.

Jan 2, 2026 · Atomic bombs work with nuclear fission. Two subcritical masses of uranium or plutonium are quickly put together to form a critical mass —that is, enough material to start a runaway fission …

Jan 15, 2024 · Interactive nuclear explosion simulator with scientific accuracy. Comprehensive nuclear education covering nuclear weapons, nuclear technology, nuclear policy, and nuclear science. …

Jun 18, 2025 · Nine countries currently either say they have nuclear weapons or are believed to possess them. The first to have nuclear arms were the five original nuclear weapons states — the United …

Sep 6, 2017 · Scientists first developed nuclear weapons technology during World War II. Atomic bombs have been used only twice in war—both times by the United States against Japan at the end of …

Explore research and data on nuclear weapons. By Bastian Herre, Pablo Rosado, and Max Roser. This page was first published in August 2013 and last revised in February 2024. The world’s nuclear …

Jan 6, 2026 · America's 450 nuclear missile silos exist, at least in part, to be destroyed in a nuclear attack. USA TODAY breaks down the debate over their future.

Comprehensive overview of the United States's nuclear weapons program. Detailed data on warhead inventory, deployment status and nuclear capabilities.

Mar 26, 2025 · Combined, the United States and Russia now possess approximately 87 percent of the world’s total inventory of nuclear weapons, and 83 percent of the stockpiled warheads available for …

At the dawn of the nuclear age, the United States hoped to maintain a monopoly on its new weapon, but the secrets and the technology for building the atomic bomb soon spread. The United States …