Nuclear weapons play a big role in the modern world. It is a deterrent in many political and military conflicts. But in the wrong hands, nuclear weapons are a big factor of instability, not only in the local region, but throughout the world.
Today you will learn interesting facts about nuclear weapons.
1
Nuclear weapons used only twice in history
Pictured: Hiroshima after the explosion
Nuclear weapons were used for military purposes only twice, and both times they were used by the US Army against Japan during World War II.
The US Air Force detonated a uranium nuclear bomb called the Little Boy in the sky above Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. And three days later, the Army Air Force dropped a plutonium bomb called "Fat Man" on Nagasaki.
In the first five years after the explosions, the death toll from the explosion itself and its consequences amounted to more than 140,000 people.
2
Over 2 thousand explosions
Nuclear Test Site Map
After the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear weapons were detonated more than two thousand times. This was done in order to study the effects and consequences of weapons or to test new models of nuclear weapons.
But even trials have brought enormous harm to people and the ecosystem as a whole. The main countries that conducted the most tests were the USA and the USSR. Great Britain, France and China also tested their weapons, but on a much smaller scale.
It is estimated that in 2005, only officially affected by the explosions at the Semipalatinsk test site, there were just over one million people, but the real figure is much higher. Not surprisingly, in those areas where the tests were conducted, the incidence of cancer is much higher than the national average. The United States and Russia are among the leaders in the number of oncological diseases worldwide.
After the end of the Cold War, Russia, the United States and other countries signed a nuclear disarmament treaty, curtailing their nuclear weapons programs. Countries that have not signed a test ban treaty include Pakistan and India. In addition, the DPRK unilaterally withdrew from this treaty in 2006. North Korea today is the only country that conducted nuclear weapons tests in the 21st century.
In one of our articles you can find out about the most powerful atomic bombs in the world.
3
Only the president can order a nuclear strike
In most countries of the "nuclear club", even if all generals consider it necessary to use nuclear weapons, they will still have to obtain permission from the president. Only the head of state bears the maximum responsibility for the use of this crushing weapon.
In the Russian Federation and in the USA, each president has a so-called “nuclear suitcase”. In appearance, this is an ordinary suitcase, in which there is a system for managing the country's strategic nuclear potential, possible codes and codes for ordering the use of nuclear weapons.
4
You can protect yourself from nuclear weapons
In order to defend against nuclear weapons, one does not need to build huge domes covering cities.
First of all, atomic bombs today can be delivered with the help of missiles, which you can try to intercept while approaching the target. This is called a missile defense system.
Leading countries of the world are developing their missile defense systems that are capable of protecting entire continents.
Among the countries actively working in this direction include the United States of America, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and France.
5
10 megaton hydrogen bomb accidentally drops out of an airplane
Pictured: Hydrogen bomb Mark 17
Yes this is true. Government documents show that the Mark17 42-kt hydrogen bomb, one of the most powerful ever made, accidentally fell from a bomber near Albuquerque in 1957.
It is reported that non-nuclear explosives that are used to launch a nuclear charge detonated, but a nuclear explosion did not occur.
As a result of the incident, no one was hurt because the bomb hit an area belonging to the University of New Mexico, creating a crater about 4 meters deep and 8 meters in diameter.
The documents indicated that minor radioactive contamination was detected in the crater.
Boeing B-47E-50-LM bomber
And this was not the only such case. In March 1958, a similar incident occurred in South Carolina when, due to the fault of the crew of a Boeing B-47E-50-LM bomber, a 30-kiloton atomic bomb was accidentally dropped on the village of Mars Bluffe. But, fortunately, the nuclear filling of the bomb in the aircraft was stored separately, so the bomb, when dropped from a height of 4,600 meters, created an explosion from non-nuclear charges, leaving a funnel with a diameter of 20 meters and a depth of 10 meters.
6
Nuclear weapons can prevent war
In the photo: ICBM Topol M
Some people claim that nuclear weapons actually prevent war. This point of view says that, unlike conventional weapons, nuclear weapons successfully restrain a total war between states.
This idea can be confirmed by the fact that the period of fierce confrontation in the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union was not direct military action. This behavior is called the "stability-instability paradox," and TheBiggest.ru does not want a repetition of such events.
7
Aliens fear nuclear weapons
Some people seriously believe that aliens live among us. Since the creation of nuclear weapons, aliens have begun to visit the Earth much more often than before, fearing that we will destroy our habitat.
8
Between 1940 and 1996, the United States spent $ 8.8 trillion on a nuclear program.
The United States is the undisputed leader in the development of nuclear weapons. It is estimated that $ 8.8 trillion. The United States spent on a nuclear program until 1996.
Where did such amounts come from?
In fact, no more than a billion was spent on the development of the weapon itself, and the lion's share of the costs associated with the development and production of delivery systems.
What is happening today?
Of course, countries are spending tremendous amounts of money on nuclear weapons even today. Modernization of existing weapons, the development of new delivery systems require considerable funds. Countries are reluctant to share budgets in this area, so we can build on the data that we have in the public domain.
According to some reports, in 2010 the nuclear budget of countries was approximately as follows:
- US - $ 61.3 billion
- China - $ 14.8 billion
- Russian Federation - $ 7.6 billion,
- France - $ 6 billion,
- Great Britain - $ 5.5 billion,
- India - $ 4.9 billion
- Pakistan - $ 2.2 billion
- Israel - $ 1.9 billion,
- North Korea - $ 0.7 billion
9
If a nuclear war breaks out
Nuclear winter
Many scientists are trying to make their assumptions about the future after a possible full-scale nuclear war.
Many of them are inclined to argue that after such a war, life on Earth can almost disappear.
Scientists believe that nuclear war will create 150 million tons of smoke, which forms a huge cloud in the atmosphere, blocking all sunlight. After such a war, the land could be unsuitable for life, not only because of radiation, but also because of the cold and lack of sunlight, on which we are very dependent.
The lack of crops will quickly devastate the planet from the usual inhabitants, leaving life only at a macroscopic level.
10
Who will win?
If a nuclear war begins, it will be lightning fast. A very important factor in the war will be time. Modern intercontinental ballistic missiles are capable of carrying a charge at a speed of more than 7 km. per second.
For example, a missile launched from Russian territory can fly to the United States in 20 minutes. And the time to deploy or prepare a rocket in a combat state takes no more than half an hour.
Since most of nuclear policy is based on global strike, 90 minutes after the start of a nuclear war, it will end. And there will be no winners.
The thebiggest.ru editorial board asks you to write in the comments your thoughts, guesses, or other interesting facts about nuclear weapons.