James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies - CNS

08/21/2026

New analysis from CNS Professor of the Practice Stephen Herzog and colleagues examines how public attitudes toward different weapons can shape the political limits of military force.

Across various WMD and conventional weapons systems, the piece shows how perceptions of weapon type and civilian harm can matter even more than battlefield effectiveness.

Read the analysis in the Irregular Warfare Initiative: https://www.irregularwarfare.org/what-makes-a-weapon-too-horrific-to-use/

08/04/2026

Russia expert Hanna Notte talks about her new book, ‘We Shall Outlast Them’
Hanna Notte details how President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine is also a war on the West.

Hanna Notte details how President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine is also a war on the West.

07/23/2026

What should responsible governance of AI-enabled risks in the nuclear and biological weapons domains look like? CNS has released the full text of the Asilomar Principles for Governing AI Applications in Nuclear and Biological Security.

Read them here:

CNS releases principles for its landmark Asilomar Process, aiming for sustained cross-sector dialogue on early AI governance.

07/22/2026

Putin’s Gamble Might Pay Off
For all the jeopardy of the war, Mr. Putin has gambled on outlasting the West.

For all the jeopardy of the war, Mr. Putin has gambled on outlasting the West.

07/16/2026

A Personal Perspective of U.S.-China Nuclear Science and Security Cooperation
This article by Siegfried S. Hecker presents a historical narrative of U.S.-China cooperation in nuclear security following China’s political opening in the early 1970s.

This article presents a historical narrative of U.S.-China cooperation in nuclear security following China’s political opening in the early 1970s.

07/14/2026

Training the Next Generation: CNS Welcomes 2026 Summer Undergraduate Fellows
The program reflects CNS's commitment to educating and mentoring the next generation of nonproliferation experts at a time of growing global nuclear risks and rapid technological change.

The program reflects CNS's commitment to educating and mentoring the next generation of nonproliferation experts at a time of growing global nuclear risks and rapid technological change.

07/08/2026

In the latest issue of Arms Control Today, Douglas Shaw, Stephen Herzog, and William C. Potter discuss the Asilomar Process approach to addressing AI-enabled risks to nuclear and biological security. They explain why now is the time for anticipatory arms control dialogue involving the private sector, governments, international organizations, and research institutions.

Read their article here: https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2026-07/features/anticipatory-arms-control-ai-age

06/29/2026

In Remembrance of George Moore
It is with a deep sense of loss that we observe the passing of CNS colleague and friend Dr. George Moore on June 23, 2026.
https://nonproliferation.org/in-remembrance-of-george-moore/

06/18/2026

New in Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: CNS researchers introduce the Asilomar Principles for Governing AI Applications in Nuclear and Biological Security.
The principles build on our April 2026 conference and mark the beginning of a new Asilomar Process. It aims to bring policymakers, weapons experts, and AI developers into early and sustained dialogue.
Read the article by Stephen Herzog, Allison Berke, Yanliang Pan, William C. Potter, and Douglas B. Shaw:

Seven principles from a recent Asilomar conference address how AI will affect nuclear and biological threats.

05/19/2026

Call for Applications: Fall 2026 CNS Visiting Fellows Program
CNS is proud to announce a new call for applications for its internationally recognized Visiting Fellows Program for Fall 2026 — now with expanded opportunities for French and U.S. nationals.

CNS is proud to announce a new call for applications for its internationally recognized Visiting Fellows Program for Fall 2026.