How different are today’s A- and H-bombs from their early counterparts in the 1940s and 50s?

Almost all nuclear weapons use alternating stages of fusion and fission. This is a typical sequence: Tiny particle accelerator fuses deuterium and tritium, spraying neutrons into the fission fuel at the moment of maximum compression. Fission chain reaction…
Would Kim Jung Un really be stupid enough to start a nuclear war?

Yes. He would totally be. I live here, right now, North Korea. I can tell you he is. The North Korean leadership is not planning to join the Eternal President Great Leader Kim Il Sung in heaven. If…
Would a weapon that could conditionally deliver either a nuclear or conventional payload be classified as a nuclear weapon?

Yes, it would be a nuclear weapon. A really stupid and provocative nuclear weapon. It is strategically stupid because you are firing a nuclear weapon either way, the fact that you added a detection system that makes it…
Why did the U.S. keep such a small force in Europe during the Cold War?

A2A. [Question sub-text, now hidden: NATO has always been outnumbered in Europe during the Cold War, and always in fear of a Soviet invasion. Given their superior economy, couldn’t they afford to match the Pact forces, in order…
In a WWIII scenario, would the nations of the world really turn to nuclear arms?

“World War” implies that most of Earth’s major nations are involved in a giant battle against each other. The odds against this event are great. Here are the areas of greatest tension in the world: Russia vs. the…
Is it possible to stop a nuclear missile by using another nuclear missile against it?

Q: Is there a way to stop a nuclear missile? Would it be something like firing another missile at it? The main problem with intercepting a ballistic missile with an anti-ballistic missile (ABM) is that ballistic missiles tend…
If President Trump were to order a nuclear strike, what would happen if anyone down the chain of command were to disobey the order?

Anyone who obeyed the order would hopefully stand trial in a Nuremberg style tribunal, as “I was just following orders” has been established by civilization as not to be an excuse for crimes against humanity. However, a true…
If the POTUS is under impeachment, can he hold the country hostage with the threat of a nuclear war?

No, I think that many people believe the President can just somehow launch Nuclear Missiles and boom boom whenever he wants. This is simply not the case. Do you really think our politicians designed the system so stupidly,…
In the event of a nuclear war, what will be the outcome? Will there be any survivors? How can one survive a nuclear situation?

There will be plenty of survivors. Hundreds of millions to billions. Even at the height of the Cold War with nuclear arsenals numbering into the 70,000 warhead range, there wasn’t enough firepower in all of the arsenals combined…
If the world was on the verge of nuclear war, would you choose to stay on earth or be one of the few who will build a colony on Mars?

I am not sure most people who would want to go and help colonize Mars would realize just how quickly things could get very, very, very bad for the majority. Barring the human element here, if something goes…

Supreme Topics

Is Lead a radioactive element?

What military opportunities do I have after 5 years in French Foreign Legion?

How do Germans view Americans from a military standpoint?

Si une arme nucléaire entre en collision avec une autre (disons, dans un silo), pouvons-nous en prévoir les conséquences à l’échelle mondiale?

What is the highest postion gained by Gurkha in British or indian army?

What weapons did ancient Athens use?

What is likely to be the consequence if NK detonates a hydrogen bomb in the air above the Pacific? Doesn’t this violate every nuclear test ban treaty?

Why aren’t aircraft cabins pressurised at a pressure equivalent of what it is at ground level?

Whose salary is higher: the Indian Army, the Air Force, or the Navy?

What is the name of the place where an airplane lands after landing in a military base?

Would the Pakistan Air Force be able to function with the same strength if they stop using F-16s?

What is the recent Iran nuclear deal with the U.S. all about?

How complicated is it to construct an intercontinental ballistic missiles?

Should we get rid of nuclear weapons?

Who would win WW2 if it was exactly the same, but both sides have the military tech, weapons and experience of today (no nukes though)?