Nuclear Weapons Detection
Ensuring nuclear material cannot be hidden from monitoring and improving international support and security issues.
To make an impact, join the conversation or donate to this project!
The Problem
There's a need for a reliable system to detect early nuclear weapon development intentions, which would allow diplomats to address security concerns without resorting to military action.
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Their Technology
Rob Hayes, Professor of Nuclear Engineering at NCSU, aims to ensure that nuclear material cannot be concealed from advanced US monitoring and characterization technology.
By creating an environment where it's nearly impossible to hide nuclear development activities, nations would be more inclined to disclose their intentions. This proactive approach would allow international diplomatic channels to address concerns without considering military options.
The ability to turn all materials into radiation detectors requires coming up with sample acquisition, sample preparation and sample measurement protocols unique to each material and setting.
By starting with general techniques that work for many materials and most locations, we can make great progress and then ultimately have enough procedures to literally cover any situation to make the narrative definitive that if you are going to develop nuclear weapons, you cannot hide it (and if you cannot hide it, why spend the effort to even try).
The Team
Dr. Robert Hayes specializes in nuclear engineering, with a focus on the environmental and safety aspects of nuclear energy.
If the project receives backing, a team of experts with aligned goals and experiences will be mobilized.
The promise of nuclear energy offers an environmentally friendly solution to our global energy challenges. It's efficient, requires minimal land, and produces limited waste. The dream is to harness its benefits without the looming fear of weapon development. This project seeks to separate the beneficial aspects of nuclear energy from the potential threats of nuclear weaponry.
Key Milestones
$4,000 to $20,000
$20,000 to $100,000
$100,000 to $500,000
Regular
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Platinum
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Standard
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Behind the Bench
Get to know the researcher with some Q&A.
How would supporting this project help your research?
The research needs to be sufficiently robust that any potential proliferator would see the likelihood for them to have a clandestine operation as being unrealistic so that they can obtain concessions and benefits from the international community in addressing national security needs (even if this is in the form of energy security as in the current case with Iran.)
Describe your style of research.
Bold, cutting edge, and on the verge of being unbelievable.
How does this project bring your research into the world?
This work makes it far more likely for a country to acknowledge early that they are going to pursue nuclear weapons so that diplomats can have a chance to address it prior to any military actions.
What’s your favorite a-ha! Moment in your research career?
Every time I take a new measurement and know that there has never been a person in history to have seen or understood that before and being able to knowingly follow up with publishing that result.