NOTE: US President Donald Trump has just announced his intention to test nuclear weapons. Filming and interviews for this documentary took place BEFORE his announcement.

Nuclear weapons – they are considered a deterrent, meant to prevent war. But what happens if they remain untested for decades? Correspondent Sarah Schmidt gains exclusive access to one of the most secretive laboratories in the US – near San Francisco. Here, researchers are investigating whether the US nuclear weapons are still functional.

But critics warn: Any miscalculation, any misunderstanding could trigger a nuclear war – with millions of deaths.

What does this mean for nuclear security, for the US, NATO, and Europe? And with nuclear weapons, what outweighs the benefits or the risks?

Weltspiegel offers rare insights into the heart of the US nuclear program – amidst high technology, moral dilemmas, and the fear of a new arms race.

Contribution: Sarah Schmidt
Editing: Regina List
Camera: James Stolz
Sound: Saskia Braun
Producer: Sarah Herndon Dekkinga

This film was produced in October 2025. All statements and facts reflect the situation at that time and have not been updated since.

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