Nuclear Weapons

Preventing nuclear explosions involves strict regulation and oversight of nuclear facilities, secure storage of nuclear materials, and diplomatic efforts to promote disarmament and non-proliferation. International agreements such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty aim to limit the spread and testing of nuclear weapons. Additionally, fostering peaceful relations between nuclear-armed countries can help reduce the risk of accidental or intentional use of nuclear weapons.

There is no guaranteed safe state during a nuclear attack, as factors such as proximity to potential targets, wind patterns, and shelter availability all play a role in determining safety. However, states with lower population densities and less strategic importance may be at lower risk. It's important to follow emergency preparedness guidelines and have a plan in place regardless of where you live.

Bikini Atoll and Enewetak Atoll were used for nuclear testing because they were remote and isolated from populated areas, they are part of the Marshall Islands which the US gained control of after WW2, their population was small and easy to relocate, etc.

Yes, nuclear bombs produce gamma radiation as a result of the nuclear fission or fusion reactions that release high-energy photons. Gamma radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation that accompanies the explosion of nuclear devices.

Basically a very long time. Most radioactive isotopes are radioactive for a long time. Uranium 232 has a half life of 69 years and plutonium 238 has a half life of 88 years. Some isotopes are very long lived.

Yes, if far enough away and with a fallout shelter to protect from the radiation from fallout that might fall distant from the explosion. If closer then a blast shelter with fallout protection would be required. But all these preparations are expensive so they would not be available to everybody, and even if available quite a few people would not have the time to get to the necessary shelters.

It is not possible to determine the exact megaton of explosion needed to destabilize the Earth's core, as it is well beyond our current technological capabilities. The Earth's core is incredibly massive and stable, requiring an amount of energy far beyond what could be produced by human-made explosives. Any such attempt would have catastrophic consequences for the entire planet.

To nuke something in a microwave, place the food in a microwave-safe dish, cover it with a microwave-safe cover or paper towel, and set a cook time. Start the microwave and wait for it to finish, then let the food stand for a minute or two before removing it. Always follow the recommended cooking times for your specific microwave and type of food.

It is estimated that there are around 13,410 nuclear warheads worldwide, with the vast majority being in the arsenals of the United States and Russia. This includes both hydrogen bombs and other types of nuclear weapons.

An atomic bomb releases nuclear energy through a process called nuclear fission, where the nucleus of an atom is split into two smaller nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy in the form of heat and radiation. This chain reaction of splitting atoms leads to a massive release of energy that results in the explosion associated with atomic bombs.

Fission bombs, especially of high yield are unstable and susceptible to a failure mode called "fizzle" in which the neutron chain reaction begins while the fissile material is still in a subcritical configuration. This simply causes the bomb to heat rapidly to the melting point, producing no useful nuclear yield.

The maximum theoretical yield of a pure fission bomb that would not just "fizzle" is estimated to be about one megaton. The largest actual yield of a pure fission bomb was the 500 kiloton Ivy King test of 1952, using a hollow spherical uranium-235 core implosion assembly design with a boron-aluminum alloy chain filling the hollow core to prevent the large amount of uranium from undergoing an accidental predetonation/"fizzle" due to stray neutrons or spontaneous fission neutrons (the chain was rapidly removed by a motor shortly before detonation of the explosive lenses).

Fusion bombs (aka hydrogen bombs) have no theoretical limits on yield, you can add as much fusion fuel as needed with no concerns over instability or "fizzle". They are triggered by small fission bombs that create the high temperature and pressure conditions needed to start fusion. Overall the cost/kiloton ratio is lower for a fusion bomb than a fission bomb (although the design is far more complicated).

The development of the hydrogen bomb greatly escalated the arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It increased tensions and spurred both nations to further expand their nuclear arsenals. The creation of this more powerful and destructive weapon deepened the sense of mutual distrust and fear between the two superpowers.

The development of the hydrogen bomb was led by a team of American scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the early 1950s. This team included physicists such as Edward Teller and Stanislaw Ulam. The successful test of the first hydrogen bomb took place in November 1952 at the Enewetak Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.

Yes, the US has missile defense systems like the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) designed to intercept and destroy incoming ballistic missile threats, including nuclear warheads. However, intercepting a nuclear bomb is highly complex and challenging due to various factors such as the speed and altitude of the incoming missile.

A Uranium or Plutonium nucleus fissions (whether in bomb or reactor) by capturing a neutron and entering an unstable excited state. This excited state releases its excess energy a couple nanoseconds later by splitting into two pieces, one about 1/3 and the other about 2/3 the mass of the original nucleus, and 2 or 3 neutrons.

Nuclear fuel is generated in nuclear reactors, where a process called nuclear fission converts uranium isotopes into energy. This energy is harnessed to generate electricity in power plants. The fuel is typically produced in specialized facilities where uranium is enriched and fabricated into fuel rods before being loaded into reactors.

• In atmospheric tests, winds carry most of it away and it becomes fallout that can be scattered nearly anywhere, depending on altitude and weather conditions. Most tests from 1945 to 1963 were of this type, after 1963 a few atmospheric tests were performed by countries that had not signed the LTBT of 1963.
• In tests in space it becomes captured in the earth's magnetic field, forming artificial radiation belts (similar to the natural Van Allen belts, which are formed by the earth's magnetic field capturing the solar wind) and causing artificial auroras near the north and south poles. None of these have been performed since 1963.
• In underwater tests it becomes mixed with the water and may generate radioactive spray and fog, depending on the depth of the burst. None of these have been performed since 1963.
• In shallow underground tests, it is similar to atmospheric tests but worse as large amounts of radioactive dirt and rocks become part of the debris. None of these have been performed since 1963.
• In properly tamped deep underground tests, all the debris is captured in the sphere of molten glass formed by the heat of the blast melting the rock around it. Almost all tests since 1963 have been of this type.
• etc.

There are a few things that can kill:

1- Obviously, if you are close, then you get blown to little bits.
2- Burns if it's hot enough.
3- Pressure effects as described above.
4- If thrown back, you could well break your neck or suffer other internal injuries.
5- Shrapnel or other high-speed objects from the blast.

India's first nuclear reactor is called the Apsara reactor. It was commissioned in August 1956 at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai.

He claims that he quoted the Hindu scripture "Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds." Whether he actually did, or just thought it, or later decided he should have said that is not completely clear. Many scientists on the project edited their comments from that day when they recorded it in journals and formal documents.

Desert is one of the places used to test nukes. It has chosen because they are unpopulated regions, radioactive waves are progressively atenuated as they go farther, and the observation of the bomb being detonated can be filmed in a safety tower. Other place to test is in the underground.

Plutonium is primarily used by nations for nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors. It is a highly regulated material due to its potential for use in weapons. Scientists also use plutonium for research and testing purposes.

When plutonium fuses with uranium in a nuclear bomb, a chain reaction occurs that releases a large amount of energy in the form of heat, light, and radiation. This energy causes an explosion, resulting in immense destruction and a significant release of harmful radiation.

• weapons
• propulsion for spacecraft, see Project Orion from middle 1950s to 1963
• digging canals
• blasting rock on road and railway construction
• blasting to make large artificial caves or tunnels
• etc.