Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

British Chicken-Warmed Nuke

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the chickens-is-there-anything-they're-not-good-for? dept.

darrellberry writes "During the Cold War, British researchers developed a nuclear landmine, kept operational during cold conditions by packing it full of live chickens. This story has appeared in a few UK media channels this morning. Probably an April Fools', but who knows? The bomb is supposedly on display at the National Archives in Kew, so if you live in London you can go and see for yourselves..." Also a BBC story and an older New Scientist blurb.

6 of 195 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Not a prank by Da+Fokka · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Of course they will say it's true. And next to that, also news agencies are fooled by Aprils fools jokes.

    Frankly, I like the joke; even more because there are people (like you, ha ha) that actually fall for it.

  2. Why today? by peterprior · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The civil service has obviously had access to these documents for a while, so why do they have to "announce" these apparently real plans on April 1st and then get all irritable and have to deny repeatedly that its an april fools joke.
    Why didn't they release the story yesterday, or couldn't they have waited until tomorrow?

  3. Landmine? by Doesn't_Comment_Code · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Isn't the point of a landmine to explode right under a group of people? Why does it matter if the charge is a nuclear detonation. As long as the people you are trying to nuke are withing a mile of the explosion, you're probably going to get them. Why not just do a remote control or timed device and save yourself all the hassle?

    --

    Slashdot Syndrome: the sudden, extreme urge to correct someone in order to validate one's self.
  4. Re:Can't take it! by Tenaka+Kahn · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It's already tomorrow here...

  5. Re:Not a prank by AKAImBatman · · Score: 3, Insightful

    But it makes no sense. The plutonium 239 alone should be enough to warm to device and keep it operational. If the PU-239 can't keep it warm, then the chickens are as good as refrigerator meat.

    --
    Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
  6. Re:Nukes are warm by LabRat007 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    oK replying to my own post is kinda lame however.. I had a buddy in the Army that was of all things an MP. His job was to gaurd nuclear shells for long range artierly. Its the middle of winter and the other guards insist on sitting on the crates because they continually emit heat. My buddy opted out beacuse he didnt want glow in the dark cajones.

    --
    "Capital punishment makes the state into a murderer. Imprisonment makes the state into a gay dungeon-master"