Stories by David Wright

David Wright is a research affiliate at the Laboratory for Nuclear Security and Policy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He formerly co-directed the Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. Credit: Nick Higgins

Astrophysics

The Physics and Hype of Hypersonic Weapons

These novel missiles cannot live up to the grand promises made on their behalf, aerodynamics shows

August 23, 2021 — David Wright and Cameron Tracy

Defense

We Can’t Count on Missile Defense to Defeat Incoming Nukes

Missiles designed to destroy incoming nuclear warheads fail frequently in tests and could increase global risk of mass destruction

June 1, 2019 — Laura Grego and David Wright

The Sciences

A Minefield in Earth Orbit: How Space Debris Is Spinning Out of Control [Interactive]

Our planet's littered orbital environs urgently need a concerted cleanup effort

February 1, 2012 — Kathy Jones, Krista Fuentes and David Wright

Where Did All That Space Debris Come From?

January 14, 2012 — David Wright