As far as the antidote is concerned, it is better left undefined so that one's imagination is unrestrained. It could be in the form of an "energy shield" or a "remote neutriono radiation attenuator beam" or an "energy sponge" or ???.
Overall, I'm suggesting that more research is always better. Especially the kind of research that involves numerical simulation because it is accessible to the masses with a modern computer (the ones 20 years from now should exceed modern supercomputers), and not just a small number of specialists.
Whereas this program is controversial today, I see a potential benefit in the future. Once the numerical model of atomic weapons is refined by these techniques (say 10-15 years), they should also be accessible on a cheap computer by that time. "Why is that good?", you ask, since an average terrorist can use it to build a desktop nuke. It is so because millions of people will be able to play with it on their own too, and a genius *might* figure out an antidote for the a-bomb cheaply through simulation. I say this is a far likely scenario since human nature is fundamentally good and the probability of a breakthrough rises with more brainiacs working on it.
Slashdot Mirror
As far as the antidote is concerned, it is better left undefined so that one's imagination is unrestrained. It could be in the form of an "energy shield" or a "remote neutriono radiation attenuator beam" or an "energy sponge" or ???.
Overall, I'm suggesting that more research is always better. Especially the kind of research that involves numerical simulation because it is accessible to the masses with a modern computer (the ones 20 years from now should exceed modern supercomputers), and not just a small number of specialists.
Whereas this program is controversial today, I see a potential benefit in the future. Once the numerical model of atomic weapons is refined by these techniques (say 10-15 years), they should also be accessible on a cheap computer by that time. "Why is that good?", you ask, since an average terrorist can use it to build a desktop nuke. It is so because millions of people will be able to play with it on their own too, and a genius *might* figure out an antidote for the a-bomb cheaply through simulation. I say this is a far likely scenario since human nature is fundamentally good and the probability of a breakthrough rises with more brainiacs working on it.