Detecting nuclear weapons on satellites using cosmic protons

A new study proposes a method to verify the Outer Space Treaty by detecting nuclear weapons on satellites using cosmic protons. The proposed system would observe neutrons produced when high-energy protons from the Van Allen belts interact with a satellite, potentially identifying a nuclear weapon within a week from 4 km away. This research addresses concerns about potential treaty violations and the lack of existing verification mechanisms for the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which bans nuclear weapons in space.