Why Did the Soviet Union Keep Programme?

COVID-19 has provided a vivid reminder of the damage biological threats can do. But the threat doesn’t come from natural sources alone. Weaponized contagious diseases — which were abandoned by the United States, but developed in large numbers by the Soviet Union, right up until its collapse — have the potential to spread globally and kill just as many as an all-out nuclear war.

For five years, Andy Weber, was the US’ Assistant Secretary of Defense responsible for biological and other weapons of mass destruction. Andy’s current mission is to spread the word that while bioweapons are terrifying, scientific advances also leave them on the verge of becoming an outdated technology.

We chose Andy to introduce the problems of pandemics and nuclear wars. 

This episode first broadcast on the regular 80,000 Hours Podcast feed on March 12, 2021. Some related episodes include:

• #4 – Howie Lempel on pandemics that kill hundreds of millions and how to stop them
• #12 – Dr Beth Cameron works to stop you dying in a pandemic. Here’s what keeps her up at night.
• #27 – Tom Inglesby on how to prevent global catastrophic biological risks.
• #65 – Amb. Bonnie Jenkins on 8 years pursuing WMD arms control, & diversity in diplomacy

Series produced by Keiran Harris.