Nuclear Threat Initiative

05/20/2026

Twenty-six years ago, Ted Turner watched a 60 Minutes II report that shook him. The segment highlighted a sobering reality: more than a decade after the end of the Cold War, thousands of nuclear weapons remained deployed around the world.

Turner didn’t just take note—he acted.

Rather than writing a letter or giving a speech, he picked up the phone and called former Senator Sam Nunn and Charlie Curtis, a former top official at the U.S. Department of Energy. That call led to the creation of the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), which opened its doors in 2001. Co-founded by Turner and Nunn, the organization was built around a mission to reduce the risks associated with nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons and ultimately build a world without them.

25 years later, Ted continues to inspire us all.

05/19/2026

AI progress is outpacing governance.

The convergence of AI and the life sciences continues to accelerate, and our research shows that while individual advances may seem incremental, their combined trajectory is significant.

05/19/2026

NTI CEO Christine Wormuth appeared on the 3 Takeaways podcast to discuss a range of national security issues.

Her 3 takeaways:

1️⃣ You can’t bomb away Iran’s nuclear capabilities
2️⃣ Nuclear weapons are still with us and the world has gotten more complicated and dangerous
3️⃣ If the US walks away from our allies, we will be less safe going forward.

05/18/2026

What do you need to know about the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda? NTI | bio’s vice president, Jake Jordan, breaks it down.

To the health workers, responders, and community members in DRC and Uganda putting themselves at risk: thank you. The hardest part of this work is done by the people closest to it.

05/18/2026

Ted Turner's favorite phrase, said NTI's Carmen MacDougall, was “Why not?” That was especially true when people started to overexplain or focus on the complexity of a situation. “He pushed us to think more creatively and more innovatively...Such an approach could serve the sector well today."

Obituary: Ted Turner, founder of the U.N. Foundation, has passed away. Admirers say that never has his example of a private citizen turned development changemaker been more poignant.

05/17/2026

NTI condemns today’s drone strike on Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the UAE and calls on all countries to pledge to never target nuclear power plants under any circumstances. Fortunately, authorities have confirmed no radiation release at the plant and normal operations continue, but the incident is a stark reminder of the catastrophic risks posed by attacks on nuclear power plants. Such an attack could cause a release of radiation that would have far-reaching ramifications.
As increasingly frequent and intense global crises pose new threats to civilian nuclear facilities, NTI experts have evaluated existing strategies for reducing risks and identified steps that governments, industry, and other stakeholders can take to build resiliency. Learn more ⬇️

https://www.nti.org/analysis/articles/nuclear-facilities-in-times-of-crisis/

05/11/2026

President Trump and President Xi will meet in Beijing on May 14-15 against a backdrop of significant geopolitical turmoil and rapid technological change.

Read our CEO Christine Wormuth's full statement. ⤵️

the Summit can produce outcomes that strengthen U.S. national security and reduce global nuclear and biological risks

05/09/2026

Some Mother’s Day gift ideas.

05/06/2026

We are deeply saddened by the loss of our founding Co-Chair Ted Turner. Ted was an extraordinary philanthropist, conservationist, entrepreneur, friend, and colleague. Ted’s optimism, determination, and energy will be deeply missed at NTI, but his memory will continue to inspire us all.

05/01/2026

Speaking at the UN event on Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones, NTI's Mark Melamed said, “I think it’s sometimes easy but mistaken to take the view that the zones emerged in the absence of security concerns, or that they’re sustainable because they are regions where those concerns are not pressing. I think the reality is, in fact, that the zones are a part of how these regions and the states involved in them have chosen to manage security. I think that is a really important but under appreciated aspect of the zones.”

04/29/2026

We are thrilled to welcome three new leaders to our Board of Directors. Senator Todd Young, an honorary member, Sean O'Keefe, and Admiral John Richardson all bring valuable expertise to shape NTI's future.

Senator Young has been deeply engaged in critical security issues for many years, working to reduce nuclear and biological risks. Sean O'Keefe is the former administrator of NASA and former Comptroller and Chief Financial Officer at the Defense Department. Admiral John Richardson served 37 years in the U.S. Navy, including as the Chief of Naval Operations.

The new additions to our board bring a depth of knowledge and experience to help guide NTI in its next chapter as we address the risks imperiling humanity.