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Nuclear weapons: who has them and how do they work?

And is a nuclear war likely?

Nuclear weapons have been back in public conversation recently - partly due to rising tensions between Iran and Israel. Outside of the news, they have also been featured a lot in films and TV shows. (Think Oppenheimer and Fallout).

But, what are nuclear weapons? And is it likely they鈥檒l be used again? Or, have we learnt from what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

The 91热爆's security correspondent Gordon Corera explains. We also hear from a nuclear studies student in Islamabad, Pakistan, about why young people should care about them.

Plus, Alex Rhodes from the team talks us through some nuclear close calls. This includes how the actions of one Stanislav Petrov could have saved us all.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Mora Morrison, Alex Rhodes and Maria Clara Montoya
Editor: Verity Wilde

Available now

15 minutes

Last on

Thu 25 Apr 2024 02:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Wed 24 Apr 2024 17:50GMT
  • Thu 25 Apr 2024 02:50GMT

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