I realized I haven’t updated things here for a long while, and that it would be worth consolidating a few overdue news updates.
First and foremost, if you want to read things from me on a more regular basis, you should be reading Doomsday Machines, which is another blog of mine, and is much more frequently updated that this one. While it is not exactly the same content or approach, you’ll find a lot of things from this blog replicated on there. Because the same person writes both of them. (I still intend to update this blog occasionally, but one only has so much time.)
Second, I have a new book coming out in December 2025 from HarperCollins: The Most Awful Responsibility: Truman and the Secret Struggle for Control of the Atomic Age. You can think of it as a sort of “atomic biography” of Harry Truman, with about half of the book focused on the use of the atomic bombs during World War II, and the rest about the non-use of atomic bombs during the rest of his administration. My basic argument is that Truman was, somewhat surprisingly, one of the most anti-nuclear presidents of the 20th century. In other words, it is provocative, but extensively researched. Keep an eye out! And if you’re the kind of person who hosts a podcast or book clubs or book talks or whatever, feel free to get in touch.
Third, and last, for at least 2025-2026 I am living in Paris, France. I am currently a visiting researcher at the Nuclear Knowledges group, at the Center for International Studies, in Sciences Po, working with the wonderful Benoît Pelopidas. I am still an associate professor at Stevens (I am on leave). I’ve been here about a month. I’m just putting this out there because it takes time for news to diffuse, and also to let anyone in Europe know (who might, say, want me to give a book talk) that I’m in your orbit. And yes, Lyndon, my dear old dog, has come with us, and is enjoying it quite a lot.
OK, that’s all for now! I am busy with a number of projects. Again, if you want more regular posts, subscribe to Doomsday Machines, which is free. If you want to learn more about what I’m doing from week to week (or just support me, or just get more photos of the dog), you can also sign up for the paid subscription, but it is absolutely not required!
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Citation: Alex Wellerstein, “News and updates,” Restricted Data: A Nuclear History Blog, September 29, 2025, accessed February 25, 2026,
