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The Controversy of a Potential Hafnium Bomb
deglr6328 writes "Physics Today has a report detailing the surprisingly heated controversy surrounding the usually sober science of nuclear isomers (the Washington Post has run a less scientifically rigorous version). Since the 70's it has been known that the specific "m2" isomer of Hafnium-178 has an extraordinarily long half life of 31 years (nuclear isomers usually have half-lives on orders of pico or nanoseconds) and on decaying, emits high energy gamma rays at ~2.5 Mev. The prospect of energy storage and rapid release in Hf-178 for the puropse of creating large energy stores, bombs and even exotic gamma ray lasers did not escape the interest of Reagan era Star Wars researchers and was seriously studied for a time during SDI's heyday, but was eventually abandoned after being considered unfeasible. Then, in 1999, Carl Collins at the Univ. of Texas Center for Quantum Electronics reported inducing energy release from Hf-178 by bombarding a sample with X-rays (from a dental machine no less). Immediately, comments about the article were submitted, pointing out inconsistencies with basic nuclear theory and the controversy has only grown since then, with claims and counter-claims of flawed experimental design, incompetence and irrational theories in feuds reminiscent of the cold fusion debacle of the late 80's. It's seeming more unlikely as the arguments drag on, but if a Hafnium bomb could be built, it is thought that a golf ball sized chunk could produce the energy equivalent of 10 tons of conventional explosives."
It's seeming more unlikely as the arguments drag on, but if a Hafnium bomb could be built, it is thought that a golf ball sized chunk could produce the energy equivalent of 10 tons of conventional explosives.
I'm assuming they'll not be using this material to make golf balls...
This is a special excite
This
"... but if a Hafnium bomb could be built, it is thought that a golf ball sized chunk could produce the energy equivalent of 10 tons of conventional explosives."
Well, damn, we had better get our best minds on that one !!
I could really improve my golf score with one of those baby's! Every shot is a hole in one - a really big hole....
than Nonium at all.
Use your head, can't you, use your head,
You're on earth, there's no cure for that - S. Beckett
... and the damn prequels still sucked. I guess all the science in the world can't save you from George Lucas. -Jem
what could be done with a Wholenium...
three basic rules in science when creating new things
1. can you blow it up?
2. can you have sex with it?
3. can you profit from it?
if atleast one condition is filled, it might be worth researching/funding
There are no atheists when recovering from tape backup.
For the sake of humanity we also must have weapons. Think about an huge asteroid, with this we could dispose the danger more efficiently than with nuke.
I can imagine the Bush Administration will now claim that Saddam Hussein had a hidden stash of golf balls... and send Tiger Woods to defuse them.
"Golf for your lifes"?
"You should never doubt what nobody is sure about." -- Willy Wonka
>They may be educated to the max in science and technology, but they have always been, are now, and will continue to be illiterate retards in ethics, morality, and basic human decency.
let me guess, you have a degree in humanities?
don't take it out on scientists just because you wasted the best years of your life.
...in the 90's by the tanning industry. Turned out to be a total failure. The researches disappeared with all the grant money, leaving only a cloud of neutrons.
DEar Friends,
Has anyone considered the money and research hours spent by all those scientists just to check out this expermental breakthrough.
Then think of all the non-American research people that are going to investigate and spend research dollars if what was said is true about the energy potential of this radioactive isotope?
As our german soldier from "LAugh-In" would say
"Veerry Interesting".
Cool, you could make a nuclear hand grenade. There would be a slight problem with employing it. It would also kill the person who threw the grenade.
Mea navis aericumbens anguillis abundat
So should I throw all my money into researching inflatable sex dolls? They fulfil all three conditions.
Decode these
"That's a commie lie, Mr. President, our studies show livable conditions return within 2 to 3 years."
"Obviously you've never heard of Cobalt Thorium G."
All's true that is mistrusted
And it usually ships the next business day:
http://www.bwild.com/exgoba.html
No comment.
It's extremely difficult to take seriously someone who believes that "modern civilization" began about 100 years ago. They must have had a lot of trouble arranging the Constitutional Convention or the coronation of Queen Elizabeth, what with all those jaguars wandering in and eating people.
At least in our post-1904 civilization we've solved the crippling "falling off the cliff" problem.
All employees must wash hands before seeking equitable relief.
Imagine a SEAL team consisting of Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer armed only with a 1-iron.
Once the world trembled at the sound of our rockets. Well once again will they tremble, this time at the sound of our driver!
Les Miserables Volume 1 now up with my reading of
Colonel Tom Edwards: Why is it so important that you want to contact the governments of our earth?
Eros: Because of death. Because all you of Earth are idiots.
Jeff Trent: Now you just hold on, Buster.
Eros: No, you hold on. First was your firecracker, a harmless explosive. Then your hand grenade: you began to kill your own people, a few at a time. Then the bomb. Then a larger bomb: many people are killed at one time. Then your scientists stumbled upon the atom bomb, split the atom. Then the hydrogen bomb, where you actually explode the air itself. Now you can arrange the total destruction of the entire universe served by our sun: The only explosion left is the Solaranite.
Colonel Tom Edwards: Why, a particle of sunlight can't even be seen or measured.
Eros: Can you see or measure an atom? Yet you can explode one. A ray of sunlight is made up of many atoms.
Jeff Trent: So what if we do develop this Solaranite bomb? We'd be even a stronger nation than now.
Eros: "Stronger." You see? You see? Your stupid minds. Stupid. Stupid.
"... but if a Hafnium bomb could be built, it is thought that a golf ball sized chunk could produce the energy equivalent of 10 tons of conventional explosives."
Exploding trick golf balls - just in time for Christmas. Give your boss the blast of his life and get that promotion you've always wanted.
Also...
Bigger weapons mean bigger Fireworks!
Fireworks=more chicks.
More Survival!
Seriously, though. The weapon does not always have to be bigger.
Sounds to me like a hafnium bomb might actually be smaller. Study of new technology (hafnium technology?) can result in miniturization of weaponry, or in advances in totally unreleated fields.
What if there is a cure for cancer in hafnium? What if there is a new power source?
(Unlikely)What if it lets us develop antigravity?
There is no such thing as Pandora's box.
There are dangerous demons out there, but the solution is not to ignore them. Rather, the solution is to win.
WhiteWolf666 an exBush supporter. All you new-school,compassionate,save the children Republicans can rot in hell
Aah, security through obscurity.
While you're at it, why not put up signs at ports and airports around the US saying "Welcome to France"? That way, the terrorists won't know who to aim at.
Idiot.
sure, in 20 years hafnium will be available at the courner store.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on