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Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ plan has a major obstacle: Physics

The proposed missile defense system has many scientists expressing skepticism

Two posters show conceptual illustrations of the Golden Dome missile defense system.

Posters depict a conceptual illustration of a planned Golden Dome missile defense system during a news conference at the White House.

Mark Schiefelbein/AP photo

By Emily Conover

In sports, the best offense is often a good defense. It’s not clear if the same applies in nuclear war.

In the face of nuclear threats from adversaries like Russia, China and North Korea, some politicians are clamoring for a system to reliably protect the United States from incoming missiles.