Become a nuclear superpower... in ten steps

[Evil Eye]

A nuclear bomb can annihilate an enemy in a flash but, perhaps more importantly, also allow a state to flex its muscle on the world stage.



So far, just eight countries have officially detonated nuclear weapons but others are suspected of owning them or trying to develop them. Iran is currently top of that list, despite the country’s continued protestations that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only.



Although the technology has been around for decades, becoming a nuclear nation is no easy task. It can involve smuggling, deception and years of hard work, not to mention the threat of swift retribution from other world powers.



So, what does it take to build a nuclear bomb? And why do few countries bother? BBC Future lays out the challenge and peril of any country wishing to undertake its very own nuclear weapons programme...

The actual steps: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120607-nuclear-weapons-in-ten-steps/





Right... has everyone got their bombs ready?

 

[DrLeftover]

I was thinking about skipping the nukes and going right for anti-matter.

 

[Evil Eye]

I was thinking about skipping the nukes and going right for anti-matter.

How would you make that work?

As I recall antimatter only annihilates as much matter as there was antimatter... Dropping a city of antimatter on a city simply to level it seems a bit... hard.

 

[Sinon]

How would you make that work?

As I recall antimatter only annihilates as much matter as there was antimatter... Dropping a city of antimatter on a city simply to level it seems a bit... hard.

I don't think it's as much for leveling a city as it is simply getting rid of resistance. Being able to pinpoint target buildings and use just enough antimatter to deal with that particular building is a much better method for getting rid of targets. It's cleaner and you have less cleaning up to do later on.

 

[DrLeftover]

An antimatter explosion releases more energy than the atoms themselves contain.



http://www.lbl.gov/abc/Antimatter.html





Pardon me, I've got to go check on my particle accelerator.

 

[Evil Eye]

An antimatter explosion releases more energy than the atoms themselves contain.

Ok, I stand corrected.

Could've sworn I'd heard something like that

Good luck getting enough of the stuff together though.

 

[DrLeftover]

You wouldn't believe the things that you can make from the common, simple items lying around your planet. Which reminds me, you're going to need a new microwave.

Orlin, Stargate SG-1, Episode Ascension

 

[Evil Eye]

Well yes, but he had quite a bit of knowledge we don't... Unless you're not telling us something about yourself