Topic: How possible is it to build a home made atomic weapon?
Blayne Bradley
unregistered
posted
Now i recall a story on Hatrack where a kid constructed a nuclear fission reactor that unfortunately resulted in a mini meltdown, however if a kid can get the parts to make an ad hoc macGeiver'd reactor how much more complicated and harder would a nuclear weapon be? I assume weapons grade material would be impossible to get your hands of outside of the scientific and military community but what of normal uranium and simple refine it yourself? How difficult would this be?
I ask entirely out of curiosity. If I wanted to build and use a weapons Ild walk into University of Toronto and grab one.
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Geezeum. Have you seen his mugshot? It seems the average person would die before being able to make an atomic weapon. Also it requires alot of space and alot of time to collect the required materials. I would say very close to impossible.
Posts: 549 | Registered: Feb 2008
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posted
I'm a little surprised that guy was allowed to become a Marine. I imagine they had a long, long talk with him first.
I mean, making Eagle Scout is a real accomplishment and it typically points to a measure of reliability and honesty. But, the $1000 in stolen batteries is a bit worrisome.
That and the whole creation of a Superfund cleanup site, aka Mom's house...
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
Getting together enough nuclear material to create some sort of reaction, and maybe even enough for a run-away reaction, isn't all that hard. Getting enough, pure-enough material that you can create a bomb without some insane precision engineering is much, much harder (essentially outside the realm of the practical for anyone below small countries and large industrial companies).
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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It should be noted that this guy did NOT make a nuclear reactor in his basement. He never managed to assemble a critical mass. That means no nuclear chain reaction and no radioactive material was generated. All he did was collect a bunch of toxic and radioactive material and then contaminate his mother's basement trying to purify it. He did not build a nuclear reactor and it is extremely doubtful that he or anyone else could have using this method.
Second, if you could get a critical mass of high purity fissionable material, it would not be that difficult to create a low efficiency bomb that would generate high levels of radioactivity and do some damage. Creating a high efficiency bomb that would detonate in a mass explosion is much more difficult and is unlikely without the investment of billions of dollars, high levels of expertise and the infrastructure that is generally only possible for the government of a large country. Certainly not something you could pull-off on your basement.
Third, you could not purify uranium ore sufficiently to obtain weapons grade material. The equipment and technology to do this is extremely complex, very expensive, dangerous, very large and heavily controlled. Very few nations have been able to do it. None have been able to do it with out it being flagged by the IAEA. If an individual were to try to purchase the equipment necessary to do it, they'd be in GTMO so fast it would make your head spin.
quote:I ask entirely out of curiosity. If I wanted to build and use a weapons Ild walk into University of Toronto and grab one.
I can guarantee you that the University of Toronto does not have nuclear weapons and even if they did, you could not walk in and grab one.
[ December 02, 2008, 10:03 AM: Message edited by: The Rabbit ]
Posts: 12591 | Registered: Jan 2000
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That's awesome. I mean, how often does such a dumb person attempt something so esoterically unexpected? It's like some poor inner-city kid posing as a classical composer and having his works attempted by the Boston Philharmonic... it's almost sweet in a way.
Posts: 9912 | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
Seriously, even asking about building one in today's age is probably not a wise thing to do if you ever want to enter the US.
Posts: 2445 | Registered: Oct 2004
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Is nobody concerned with the fact that you can apparently get a merit badge in ATOMIC ENERGY?!?
To earn this merit badge you are required to learn some basics about nuclear science, radiation and nuclear power and to do some simple experiments involving background radiation and its detection and use. Why should this be a concern?
Posts: 12591 | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
I hope the NSA, or whomever is assigned to such things, is having a good time reviewing this thread and Hatrack at large. Welcome!
Posts: 2596 | Registered: Jan 2006
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quote:Originally posted by The Rabbit: To earn this merit badge you are required to learn some basics about nuclear science, radiation and nuclear power and to do some simple experiments involving background radiation and its detection and use. Why should this be a concern?
Maybe it's me, but looking at the list of available merit badges it kind of stands out listed next to archery, bugling, basketry, etc...
Posts: 3486 | Registered: Sep 2002
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posted
I think, for blast per unit effort, you'd be much better off building a FAE with black powder.
Posts: 10645 | Registered: Jul 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Nighthawk: Is nobody concerned with the fact that you can apparently get a merit badge in ATOMIC ENERGY?!?
It would be a lot easier for a boy scout to cause problems while getting his rifle shooting or shotgun shooting merit badges.
Posts: 16551 | Registered: Feb 2003
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posted
Hi Mr. Poor, Bored NSA Tech Assigned to Review this Page.
Blayne's harmless really, and also in Canada. (Though if you can get the Canadian government to arrest and question him, go for it, might teach him a lesson about hair-brained ideas and airing them on the internet.)
If you're really that bored have a look around, there's some interesting stuff here. Or else, if your supervisor's breathing down your neck, best move on to the next item on your list.
quote:Originally posted by The Rabbit: To earn this merit badge you are required to learn some basics about nuclear science, radiation and nuclear power and to do some simple experiments involving background radiation and its detection and use. Why should this be a concern?
Maybe it's me, but looking at the list of available merit badges it kind of stands out listed next to archery, bugling, basketry, etc...
You are being a bit selective in your comparison. There are merit badges in a wide range of science and engineering topics including astronomy, chemistry, composite materials, engineering, oceanography, space exploration, veterinary medicine, dentistry and more. If you were to look at the merit badges arranged by topic rather than alphabetically it doesn't stand out at all.
Posts: 12591 | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
BSA merit badges more likely to cause the loss of life, limb, or property than the Nuclear Science merit badge (the Atomic Energy merit badge is obsolete):
Animal Science Archery Athletics Automotive Maintenance Aviation Backpacking Camping Canoeing Chemistry Climbing Cooking Cycling Dog Care Electricity Farm Mechanics Fishing Fly Fishing Hiking Horsemanship Lifesaving Metalwork Motorboating Oceanography Personal Fitness Pets Pioneering Public Speaking Railroading Reptile and Amphibian Study Rifle Shooting Rowing Salesmanship Shotgun Shooting Skating Small-Boat Sailing Snow Sports Sports Swimming Traffic Safety Truck Transportation Veterinary Medicine Water Sports Whitewater Wilderness Survival Wood Carving Woodworking
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