To Prohibit All Nuclear Explosions, Here's How To Detect A Secret Nuclear Test

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) prohibits all nuclear explosions anywhere on earth. As of 2015, not all nuclear powers signed and ratified the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty, but that agreement created an international organization to detect any secret nuclear bomb test in the world. The test Ban Preparatory Commission has already developed a Monitoring System that can detect any nuclear explosions that takes place anywhere on, above, or inside the earth.

Nuclear explosions releases a lot of energy. This energy moves in the forms of waves that travel at the speed of sound through whatever medium surrounds the bomb. If you detect them in multiple places you can triangulate exactly where and when the blasts occurred. Simple in principle, complicated in practice.

In the ground, there are seismometers. These are the same detectors used to measure earthquakes. Thanks to the CTBTO for helping keep the world safe by detecting secret nuclear tests for billions of people. Watch the full video below to learn how.