The world stands on the precipice of a new and perilous nuclear era. With the collapse of decades-old arms control frameworks and the resurgence of superpower rivalries, the so-called "third nuclear age" has ushered in unprecedented challenges.
In this new chapter, long-standing arms control agreements are crumbling, superpowers like the United States, Russia, and China are racing to modernize and expand their arsenals, and regional powers like North Korea and Iran continue to push the boundaries of nuclear development. The world is certainly facing a severely uncertain future.
How did humanity reach this point in nuclear history? What can be expected from this new nuclear age? And what lessons have the previous two eras given us? Click through to find out.