The Controversy of a Potential Hafnium Bomb 499
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."
A little dangerous... (Score:5, Funny)
I'm assuming they'll not be using this material to make golf balls...
Hurry!! (Score:5, Funny)
Well, damn, we had better get our best minds on that one !!
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
When are they going to be marketed? (Score:3, Funny)
Better Hafnium... (Score:5, Funny)
All that Star Wars research back in the 80s... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:A little dangerous... (Score:2, Funny)
I shudder to think... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Bah (Score:5, Funny)
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
Re:for the sake of humanity (Score:2, Funny)
Great... (Score:1, Funny)
"Golf for your lifes"?
Re:Power, Science and Death (Score:4, Funny)
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.
Nuclear isomers were investigated thoroughly... (Score:1, Funny)
hafnium ? poltential for misdirection (Score:2, Funny)
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".
The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Bah (Score:5, Funny)
obStrangelove (Score:4, Funny)
"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."
golf ball sized chunk of hafnium ... (Score:0, Funny)
http://www.bwild.com/exgoba.html [bwild.com]
Re:The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch (Score:2, Funny)
Then shalt thow count to three, no more no less
Three shall be the number thow shalt count and the number of the counting shall be three
Four shalt though not count, neither count thow 2 excepting that thow then proceed to three
Five is right out.
Once the number 3, being the third number be reached
Then lobist thow thy holy hand grenade of Antillock
Towards thy foe,
Who being naughty in my sight
Shall snuff it
Amen, Amen
--
disclaimer. copied and pasted. probably wrong.
Very worrying precedent (Score:2, Funny)
Our astonishingly young civilization (Score:5, Funny)
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.
Re:Hurry!! (Score:4, Funny)
Re:The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch (Score:3, Funny)
PS. Any psychologists out there care to tell me what it means?
Re:Not to be contrarian, but . . . (Score:3, Funny)
Once the world trembled at the sound of our rockets. Well once again will they tremble, this time at the sound of our driver!
Obligatory Plan 9 From Outer Space quote: (Score:1, Funny)
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.
Available in the shops right now .. (Score:3, Funny)
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.
Re: on competition (Score:3, Funny)
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.
Re:Better Hafnium... (Score:3, Funny)
than Nonium at all.
I was thinking the same thing: is hafnium only 50% as effective as fulnium? Where do they get the unobtanium to make this stuff?
Re:Power, Science and Death (Score:1, Funny)
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.
Re:Scotty, beam me the hell outta here! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Our astonishingly young civilization (Score:3, Funny)
100%
Just give it time.