News Releases
2010
- 07-13-2010The Obama administration is planning to cut the U.S. nuclear arsenal by as much as 40 percent by 2021, but also wants to spend nearly $175 billion over the next twenty years to build new facilities and to maintain and modify thousands of weapons, according to sections of an administration plan made public today by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). «view»06-14-2010The Small Arms Survey released its tenth annual global analysis of small arms and related issues, the "Small Arms Survey 2010: Gangs, Groups, and Guns". Matt Schroeder, manager of the Arms Sales Monitoring Project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), co-authored the chapter on the global ammunition trade. «view»05-10-2010On May 11, 2010, at 12:15 pm Alicia Godsberg will be live on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com) to answer your questions about the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. «view»04-02-2010The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) today announced the election of its new Chairman of the Board of Directors — a technology, foreign policy, and defense expert who is a distinguished visiting scholar with the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley (UCB). «view»
2009
- 12-08-2009While most American students have an intuitive grasp of popular music, professional sports, and consumer electronics, they lack a basic understanding of cell biology. The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) developed the video game Immune Attack to plunge 7th – 12th graders into the microscopic world of immune system proteins and cells. Immune Attack is a three-dimensional video game that provides a place to gain an understanding of cellular biology and molecular science, according to an FAS expert who will be discussing the game evaluation during the 2009 ASCB Annual Meeting, taking place December 5 – 9, 2009 in San Diego, California. «view»12-02-2009The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) today announced the appointment of its president — a science, technology, and foreign policy expert who has focused the last five years of his research and analysis on the global use of nuclear energy, U.S. nuclear weapons policy, the nonproliferation regime, and the prevention of radiological and nuclear terrorism for the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). «view»07-22-2009At a 21 July meeting, the Board of Directors of the Federation of American Scientists appointed Ivan Oelrich, the Vice President of the Strategic Security Program, as Acting President of the Federation. Henry Kelly, the previous president of the Federation, resigned his post to become the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Oelrich has worked at FAS since 2002 and has devoted his career to national security. «view»07-16-2009A group of 34 U.S. Nobel Laureates is calling on President Obama to urge Congress to include the president’s proposed $150 billion Clean Energy Technology Fund in the climate legislation it is considering. The climate bill approved by the House in June falls far short of this goal, they told the president in a letter sent to the White House today. «view»05-08-2009We at the Federation of American Scientists were delighted to learn that President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Tara O’Toole, M.D., M.P.H., and former FAS President for Under Secretary for Science & Technology in the Department of Homeland Security. «view»04-08-2009President Barack Obama called for a world without nuclear weapons. The Federation of American Scientists and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) released a report calling for fundamental changes to U.S. nuclear war planning, a vital prerequisite if smaller nuclear arsenals are to be achieved. «view»03-19-2009Most scientific research goes largely unnoticed by the general public until media reports reveal major scientific breakthroughs or biosafety accidents. The most recent module in the FAS Case Studies in Dual Use Biological Research series examines the public reaction to scientific research. It is designed to increase scientists’ awareness of the general public’s perception of their research, the possible consequences, and how scientists can engage the public to address their concerns. «view»
2008
- 12-22-2008Conference Call with Dr. Michael Stebbins and Dr. Vahid Majidi on Tuesday, 23 December 2008 from 11:30 am – noon EST. To RSVP please contact Monica Amarelo at mamarelo@fas.org or 202-454-4680. «view»11-12-2008Do you know the difference between Active Worlds and Whyville? Curious to learn how your simulation of racing sailboats will work in There instead of Second Life? The Federation of American Scientists unveiled an ambitious infrastructure for cataloging virtual environments called the Virtual Worlds Almanac (http://vworld.fas.org/wiki/Main_Page). This wiki currently classifies 74 virtual worlds and includes extensive links to tools, news, and other useful online reference materials. «view»09-30-2008The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) will reach new levels with Immune Attack TM – the first biologically accurate immunology video game –through a generous grant awarded by the ESA Foundation (ESAF). This bold and fun game is available for download at http://fas.org/immuneattack. «view»09-19-2008The Federation of American Scientists has chosen Raymond Jeanloz, a professor of geophysics and astronomy at the University of California at Berkeley, as the recipient of the 2008 Hans Bethe Award for "his demonstration of the reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile in the presence of a moratorium on nuclear testing.” «view»09-17-2008The Federation of American Scientists has chosen Mark D. Levine, director of the China Energy Group at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, as the recipient of the 2008 FAS Public Service Award for "his extraordinary contributions to energy efficiency research and for his work in China to build a strong energy program.” «view»08-18-2008Congress has authorized a major new research center, the National Center for Research in Advanced Information and Digital Technologies, that will bring the same focused, sustained research funding to technology and learning that the federal government has funded for years in technology for health care at the National Institutes of Health and technology for energy at the Department of Energy. «view»08-01-2008On Thursday, July 31, 2008, Digital Promise was passed by both the House and Senate as part of the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. It is expected to be signed into law by President Bush within days. «view»07-23-2008FAS launched the Office of Technology Assessment Archive which allows the public to access more than 720 reports and documents produced by OTA during its 23 year history, including many that have not been available to the public previously. «view»07-23-2008Matthew Schroeder, project manager of the Arms Sales Monitoring Project, examines the problem of diversion as related to stockpiles, international transfers, and end-user documentation. «view»06-20-2008Washington DC— The Federation of American Scientists joined 16 prominent scientific and engineering groups to ask all Congressional candidates seven questions on the science and technology policies that affect all of our lives. «view»05-22-2008On Thursday, 22 May 2008, the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) will launch Immune Attack TM, an exciting, fun and fast-moving video game that teaches the critical scientific facts of immunology. The cutting-edge game is designed to teach how the immune system works to defend the body against invading bacteria. The visual elements and simulations are critical for grasping the complex interactions of the biological systems. «view»05-13-2008Briefing on Wednesday, 14 May 2008 from 2:00 – 3:30 pm in 2318 Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill. «view»05-12-2008How do you motivate students with progressively more difficult challenges where success depends on a sophisticated grasp of concepts in immunology? How can you teach young adults to choose better life-style behaviors to protect against infection? «view»04-01-2008Today the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) launches an online compilation of more than 500 documents on the U.S. ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The Archive includes a timeline of CWC negotiations, a history of its signing and ratification, and current news and commentary on the CWC. «view»03-27-2008A spam e-mail making the rounds in the military community serves as a reminder that facts can be flexible when they are launched anonymously into the vast void of cyberspace. There’s just one problem: The figures listed in the email are wrong. They vary markedly from the figures published in the cited CRS source document. «view»03-18-2008On March 18th, 2008, FAS President Henry Kelly spoke on energy conservation and climate change at the Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA) Annual Meeting and Conference. His presentation focused on the impacts of the building industry on the realities of climate change, as well as the important potential of advanced building products like SIPs as a mitigation strategy. «view»02-29-2008The hearing examined how to improve oversight of the intelligence community as the Director of National Intelligence prepares to implement significant government-wide management reforms. «view»02-21-2008Two and a half years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit, the Center for Disease Control revealed that thousands of people continue to live in FEMA-provided shelters that expose them to levels of formaldehyde that are up to 40 times more than maximum permitted levels. «view»02-15-2008The United States is planning to intercept a dying reconnaissance satellite with a missile launched from a Navy ship. The administration justifies the intercept on the basis of public safety. That is a long stretch, indeed, and thus far in the news coverage that I have seen there is virtually no mention of the political consequences of the United States’ conducting its first anti-satellite test in over two decades. «view»02-13-2008FAS with the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and others, have issued a report that calls for the immediate reassessment of U.S. nuclear missions. «view»02-08-2008Today the U.S. House of Representative voted to approve the Higher Education authorization bill that includes a provision creating a National Center for Learning Science and Technology Trust Fund. This not-for profit center, which will receive both appropriated funds and support from private sources, will “support precompetitive basic and applied research, development, demonstrations, and assessments of prototypes of innovative digital learning and information technologies as well as the components and tools needed to create them”. «view»01-07-2008China's entire fleet of approximately 55 general-purpose submarines conducted a total of six patrols during 2007, slightly better than the two patrols conducted in 2006 and zero in 2005. «view»
2007
- 12-12-2007FAS partnered with SRI International to undertake a strategic planning process for advancing scholarly work in the humanities with the tools, representations, and social interaction enabled by the promising new technology of virtual worlds. The will also support and facilitate this project. «view»12-03-2007On 3 December 2007, the Federation of American Scientists presented the 2007 Hans Bethe Award to Matt Bunn at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. «view»11-05-2007The 2001 Nuclear Posture Review and White House guidance issued in response to the terrorist attacks against the United States in September 2001 led to the creation of new nuclear strike plans against regional states seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction, according to a military planning document obtained by the Federation of American Scientists. «view»11-05-2007The 2001 Nuclear Posture Review and White House guidance issued in response to the terrorist attacks against the United States in September 2001 led to the creation of new nuclear strike plans against regional states seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction, according to a military planning document obtained by the Federation of American Scientists. «view»10-18-2007Dr. James Watson reveals racial prejudices «view»10-17-2007On October 18, FAS hosted a news briefing on the status of the nuclear technology transfer agreement between the United States and India in light of its near collapse. The transcript, video and images are available online. «view»09-05-2007Five nuclear-armed Advanced Cruise Missiles were mistakenly flown on a B-52H bomber from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana on August 30. «view»08-30-2007The Bush administration has decided to more than double the number of nuclear warheads to undergo an expensive upgraded for potential future deployment on the navy’s 14 ballistic missile submarines, according to answers provided by the National Nuclear Security Administration in response to questions from the Federation of American Scientists. «view»07-19-2007Western condemnation of Russian threats to target a future European system, although understandable, are disingenuous because they gloss over the fact that U.S. nuclear weapons for decades have targeted the missile defense system around Moscow, according to a report from the Federation of American Scientists. «view»07-12-2007Hans M. Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), analyzed commercial satellite images that show China has significantly reorganized facilities believed to be launch sites for nuclear ballistic missiles near Delingha in the northern parts of Central China. «view»07-11-2007The Federation of American Scientists is profoundly disturbed by the testimony of former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona at the July 10th hearing of the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee. «view»07-09-2007The U.S. Air Force has removed Ramstein Air Base from a list of installations that receive periodic nuclear weapons inspections, indicating that nuclear weapons previously stored at the base may have been permanently removed and withdrawn to the United States. «view»07-05-2007Hans M. Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), spotted images of the new Chinese ballistic missile submarine, photographed by the commercial Quickbird satellite in late 2006, and made freely available on the Google Earth web site. «view»05-30-2007The three major components of the Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP) at the Department of Energy are all seriously over budget and seriously behind schedule, according to a report issued today by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS). «view»04-02-2007A new report released by the Department of Education underestimates the impact of new technology and software in the classroom. «view»03-07-2007The U.S. Air Force has decided to retire the Advanced Cruise Missile, the most modern and capable nuclear cruise missile in the U.S. arsenal, according to information obtained by the Federation of American Scientists. «view»
2006
- 12-04-2006The Small Arms Trade covers everything from gun-toting militias to child soldiers to terrorists armed with shoulder-fired missiles, and is loaded with fascinating anecdotes and disturbing statistics. «view»11-30-2006Pentagon Exaggerates China's Nuclear Capability to Justify Buying New Generation of U.S. Weapons, Report Finds -- Urgent Steps Needed to Defuse Potential for U.S.-China Nuclear Face-Off «view»10-17-2006Features of video and computer games teach skills in demand by present-day employers. «view»10-06-2006New strategy to develop national R&D investment for video games and computer simulations in education. «view»09-21-2006New game prototype released at Games for Health conference. «view»09-14-2006Research scientists self-regulate to better face real world ethical dilemmas. «view»08-07-2006(FAS), with an industry advisory panel assembled by the Charles Pankow Foundation and the Architectural Engineering Institute of the American Society of Construction Engineers, will test the use of cementitious structural insulated panels (CSIPs) in multi-level construction. The study is being funded by the Charles Pankow Foundation. «view»08-01-2006Can a summer intern do the work of a government agency? «view»06-09-2006Research Briefing and Demonstration illustrate effectiveness of new technologies and the need for federal leadership «view»06-07-2006The Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission (WMDC) released a 231-page report published today that presents recommendations for how to move the nonproliferation and disarmament agenda forward. If implemented, the recommendations would have significant effect on the pace of nuclear disarmament and the efforts to curtail proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. «view»06-06-2006While the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) believes there are a hundred different areas in which the United States and India could, and should, establish closer ties, this nuclear agreement isn't it. FAS will release a letter supported by a community of Nobel Laureates at an event at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, 14 June 2006 to announce its opposition to the current Indian nuclear cooperation deal. «view»05-16-2006Michael Stebbins warns that in his new book he has tried to deal with science and health issues as though he were haranguing you at a party. «view»04-28-2006President Bush named Arthur H. Rosenfeld as the winner of the Enrico Fermi Award, the government's oldest award for scientific achievement. The presidential award carries an honorarium of $375,000 and a gold medal. «view»FAS Urges White House to exclude Nuclear Weapons From National Security Strategy in War on Terrorism03-16-2006The White House published a new National Security Strategy for the United States that strengthens the role of nuclear weapons in preemptive military strikes against terrorists and hostile states armed with chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. «view»
2005
- 12-22-2005The Department of Health and Human Services appropriations bill is now finalized and Congress has imposed the first cut in funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 36 years. «view»12-20-2005FAS is working with the Working Group on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness to increase funds for public health emergencies. Learn more about funding for influenza preparedness in the DOD Spending bill. «view»11-30-2005This day-long symposium is an ideal opportunity to reassess the founding principles of FAS and take stock of what we’ve accomplished, who we’ve become and where we’re going. «view»11-15-2005The Government Accountability Office found that the FDA used a highly unusual process to evaluate the application for the over-the-counter status of Plan B. «view»11-02-2005A CRS report on the secret sessions of Congress was referenced by CNN yesterday. «view»10-26-2005Administration withdraws request for the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP) or nuclear bunker buster. Department of Defense will seek non-nuclear, conventional solutions. «view»10-01-2005FAS project manager Matt Schroeder provides an arms trade analyst's perspective on Andrew Niccol's new film. «view»08-11-2005The FAS Learning Federation will begin developing some of the new approaches to learning called for in its national vision. With $2.4 million in grants, the funds will support development of three educational 'games.' «view»07-19-2005Matt Schroeder shares his point of view on U.S. gun laws and international arms trade with The Brooklyn Connection on PBS. «view»07-01-2005FAS President Henry Kelly explains how games, simulations, and other information technologies can revolutionize and personalize education. «view»05-05-2005This workshop will bring together educational researchers, medical practitioners, and simulation developers to examine research challenges in integrating learning technologies into simulation-based trainers in medicine. «view»04-28-2005The report shows that in some cases, the casualties from use of a nuclear earth penetrator could exceed a million people. See the FAS comments on the report here. «view»04-19-2005The Administration is asking for funds for research on high-yield robust nuclear earth penetrators. This report shows that there is no tactical requirement for these weapons, countermeasures are easy, and they would create large swaths of deadly fallout. «view»04-07-2005The Housing Technology Project will be constructing a model home in Houston, Texas, to demonstrate the use of structural insulated panel construction as part of a safe, environmentally-friendly, and cost efficient home. «view»04-07-2005Iraq's attempt to import high strength aluminum tubes was portrayed as evidence that it was pursuing a nuclear weapons capability. This tutorial reviews gas centrifuges and explains why this technology is central to nuclear proliferation concerns. FAS releases a tutorial on gas centrifuges' role in nuclear proliferation. «view»03-08-2005Hans Albrecht Bethe, 98, a key scientific leader of the Manhattan Project, died March 7 at his home in Ithaca, New York. «view»03-01-2005In an editorial, FAS' Matt Schroeder argues that the European Union's arms embargo should be maintained until Beijing stems the flow of Chinese military equipment to problematic customers. «view»01-01-2005A new FAS database provides access to over 1100 pages of previously unreleased data on U.S. small arms shipments. Users can search the 40,000+ records by date and country. «view»
2004
- 04-06-2005In Ensuring America's Space Security, the FAS Panel on Weapons in Space found that threats to US satellites can best be met by other steps than placing weapons in space - at least for the next five years. It recommends the issue be reviewed at that time. «view»12-01-2004FAS warns that US institutions providing science advice to Congress and the Executive Branch are in a state of "crisis." Flying Blind proposes sensible, nonpartisan steps to fix the problem soon. «view»11-17-200411-11-2004Congress should fully fund the President's $9 million request for the Small Arms/Light Weapons Destruction Program in the Foreign Operations budget, writes FAS' Matt Schroeder in a Nov 12 op-ed. The program has helped to destroy over 700,000 weapons. «view»10-03-2004Iraq's attempt to import high strength aluminum tubes was portrayed as evidence that it was pursuing a nuclear weapons capability. This tutorial reviews gas centrifuges and explains why this technology is central to nuclear proliferation concerns. «view»09-21-2004The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded FAS a grant to begin development of a prototype training system using advanced learning technologies to prepare fire fighters to respond to major emergencies. «view»09-10-2004The Learning Federation Project of the FAS is co-sponsoring the first annual "Games for Health" meeting in Madison, Wisconsin September 16 and 17, 2004. The conference will bring together the growing community of video games designers, researchers and creators of learning simulations for the health professions. The goal is to move forward the exciting field of simulated learning. «view»07-22-2004Satellites have become an absolutely critical component of U.S. military operations. They are used to guide munitions, provide intelligence, relay communications, and enable live video links from battlefields. Because they could be attractive targets to a technologically able adversary, it is in the strategic interests of the United States to ensure these assets are defended. Furthermore, billions of dollars worth of non-military commercial satellites--numbering about 2,700--should also be protected. «view»06-25-2004"The ultimate goal of the Digital Human project is construction of a complete, functioning, accessible simulation of the human body," Dr. Chris Johnson of the University of Utah told a packed meeting on Capitol Hill today. «view»06-23-2004For the second consecutive year the Federation of American Scientists has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, an evaluation group that ranks nonprofit organizations. The service compares the financial management of about 3,000 nonprofits per year as a service to potential donors. «view»04-05-2004The Federation of American Scientists Biosecurity Project received a two year, $500,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. «view»
2002
- 11-12-2002"Fire in the Hole: Nuclear and Non-Nuclear Options for Counterproliferation" «view»09-09-2002Study Calls for Immediate Creation of Interagency Strategy and Deployment of Information Technology to Provide Effective Training «view»01-29-2002A Survey of International Investment in Educational Technology Research and Development conducted by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) released today finds that the US designated approximately $200 million to educational technology research and development in FY2000. «view»
2001
- 12-19-2001The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) say that a joint DoD-DOE report to Congress on possible development of a low-yield nuclear weapon for destroying buried stockpiles of chemical or biological weapons indicates a clear lack of enthusiasm in the Defense Department for new bunker-buster nuclear weapons. «view»12-13-2001The Bush Administration’s decision to withdraw from the ABM treaty is both unnecessary and unwise. It is ironic that as we rediscover the need for international cooperation, we are taking an action almost universally opposed by our allies. «view»06-05-2001A report prepared for the Federation of American Scientists identifies effective, fast-working Chinese methods that can return degraded lands in South China to productive agriculture, reduce dangerous flooding and landslides, and play a key role in blocking climate change. «view»04-16-200101-05-2001Delay in ratification harmful to US security interests «view»
2000
- 07-06-2000The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) today released a letter to the President signed by 50 American Nobel laureates in the sciences stating that under current circumstances, "any movement toward deployment" of a ballistic missile defense system would be "premature, wasteful, and dangerous." «view»05-16-2000Henry Kelly, currently assistant director for technology in the White House Office of Science and Technology, will take office as president of the Federation of American Scientists on June 1, 2000. «view»
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