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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 !!
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.
>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.
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
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.