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ISIS's Hunt For a Bogus Superweapon

schnell writes: The New York Times Magazine has a fascinating story about ISIS efforts to get their hands on a mysterious and powerful superweapon called Red Mercury. The problem is that by consensus among scientific authorities, Red Mercury doesn't exist. And yet that hasn't stopped the legend of Red Mercury, touted by sources from Nazi conspiracy theorists to former Manhattan Project scientists, as having magical properties. Middle East weapons traders have even spun elaborate stories for its properties (ranging from thermonuclear explosive properties to sexual enhancement) and origins and sources (from Soviet weapons labs to Roman graveyards). What can account for the enduring myth of Red Mercury — is it rampant scientific illiteracy, the power of urban legend and shared myth, or something else?

10 of 330 comments (clear)

  1. Next up: by ColdWetDog · · Score: 5, Funny

    We tell them Andromeda Strain was a documentary.

    --
    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  2. Don't you mean Allah? by r-diddly · · Score: 5, Funny

    The New York Times Magazine has a fascinating story about ISIS efforts to get their hands on a mysterious and powerful superweapon called [Allah]. The problem is that by consensus among scientific authorities, [Allah] doesn't exist. And yet that hasn't stopped the legend of [Allah], touted by sources from Nazi conspiracy theorists to former Manhattan Project scientists, as having magical properties. Middle East weapons traders have even spun elaborate stories for its properties (ranging from thermonuclear explosive properties to sexual enhancement) and origins and sources (from Soviet weapons labs to Roman graveyards). What can account for the enduring myth of [Allah] — is it rampant scientific illiteracy, the power of urban legend and shared myth, or something else?

    1. Re:Don't you mean Allah? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      And "exactly" in this context is street slang for whoosh

  3. dihydrogen monoxide by twmcneil · · Score: 3, Funny

    I hope they don't learn about the absolutely lethal dihydrogen monoxide. They'll be all over that shit.

    Oh, I let the cat out of the bag didn't I?

    --
    "The ferrets, they're every where I tell you!"
  4. Ark of the Covenant! by Zobeid · · Score: 5, Funny

    Red Mercury is totally bogus. If they were smart, they'd go to Ethiopia and swipe the Tabota Seyen -- the Ark of the Covenant. There's your super-weapon. I mean, all you have to do is carry it in front of your army, and it just wipes out your enemies in masse! The Ethiopians themselves have used it multiple times in battle.

    Did you guys *see* what it did in Raiders of the Lost Ark? That movie was totally fact-based! ;)

  5. Re:Red Mercury confirmed: by binarylarry · · Score: 5, Funny

    Pff I have Red Mercury for sale also, finest quality.

    Only $19 Billion and I throw in 3 additional virgins and projection TV!

    Come on down to Crazy Achmed's WMD Emporium!

    No CIA or NSA please.

    --
    Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
  6. They should check out by rossdee · · Score: 4, Funny

    the nearest Ford/Lincoln car dealer

  7. Re:Star Trek? by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 4, Funny

    I take it they haven't seen the Star Trek reboots...

    Well they tried. They were told it was important to watch the movies in order, but they just couldn't get past Star Trek 5 - as soon as Kirk met God, the Daesh felt obligated to burn down the theater.

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    #DeleteChrome
  8. Ob: homeopathy by Hognoxious · · Score: 4, Funny

    And just as available is its organic (and thus far more potent) analog, hydrogen hydroxide.

    It's much more effective if you dilute in one to a million with water.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  9. Re:Red Mercury = Wildly Batshit Insane by T.E.D. · · Score: 4, Funny

    Nobody watches CNN at home. Their entire viewership consists of people stuck waiting in airport terminals and Doctors' offices.