• Queen HawlSera@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      This is completely wrong. Lost nuclear bombs are not going to be functional in the slightest after decades, as they require very precisely timed detonation of explosive charges to actually trigger the main fission reaction. They’re not like chemical bombs, which will explode with enough heat or pressure. And after decades the circuitry to control the explosive charges will be long dead.

      So wait, you’re telling me that Mr. Burke can’t really blow up that bomb in the middle of Megaton?

    • mememuseum@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Also, the fissile material has been radioactively decaying for decades and should no longer be refined enough to go critical.

    • Raxiel@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      You’re probably right, and in terms of the design yield absolutely right.

      But if just one explosive charge were to miss fire, you could theoretically still get a fizzle that measures in single digit or even tens of tonnes of TNT.
      That’s pretty trivial as bombs go, but it would be incredibly dirty.