Mini-nukes and mosquito-like robot weapons being primed for future warfare

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/17/mini-nukes-and-inspect-bot-weapons-being-primed-for-future-warfare.html ^ | Jeff Daniels

[BenLurkin]

Nanotechnology opens up the possibility to manufacture mini-nuke components so small that they are difficult to screen and detect. Furthermore, the weapon (capable of an explosion equivalent to about 100 tons of TNT) could be compact enough to fit into a pocket or purse and weigh about 5 pounds and destroy large buildings or be combined to do greater damage to an area.

"When we talk about making conventional nuclear weapons, they are difficult to make," he said. "Making a mini-nuke would be difficult but in some respects not as difficult as a full-blown nuclear weapon."

Del Monte explained that the mini-nuke weapon is activated when the nanoscale laser triggers a small thermonuclear fusion bomb using a tritium-deuterium fuel. Their size makes them difficult to screen, detect and also there's "essentially no fallout" associated with them.

Still, while the mini-nukes are powerful in and of themselves, he expects they are unlikely to wipe out humanity. He said a larger concern is the threat of the nanoscale robots, or nanobots because they are "the technological equivalent of biological weapons."

The author said controlling these "smart nanobots" could become an issue since if lost, there could be potentially millions of these deadly nanobots on the loose killing people indiscriminately.

[Texas Fossil]

See my post #40

[Texas Fossil]

The Five Stupidest Nuclear Weapons

http://www.weirdworm.com/the-five-stupidest-nuclear-weapons/

Our topic of discussion is mentioned.

[Retain Mike]

I always thought the Davy Crockett was pulled for political reasons. What immediately occurred to me was whether you really wanted some Army major or colonel in charge of a battalion to make the decision to use nuclear weapons against the Soviets.

[dp0622]

Funniest thing i’ve read in a long time!! :)

Guy has great sense of humor.

But his communist side peeks out here:

destroying half of Britain and irradiating the other half is vastly preferable to allowing people with a different economic system from you to control your land...

If he really thinks communism is just a different economic system, then he is VERY smart in some ways and BRUTALLY stupid in others.

Like me :)

[Texas Fossil]

I thought it was pretty funny.

I am all right wing, but have a few left wing friends. I still get along with the few sane ones. They don’t quite get me, but seldom degrade conversation.

Some of my Syrian Kurd friends (more communal than communist) don’t get the dark side. But I really like them.

[posterchild]

Before I posted I saw the Californium listing on wikipedia but really - which country has the ability to make sufficient amounts of Californium:)

[Rebelbase]

Been around for about 20 years.

[cpdiii]

Helium, iron, and just about anything. Only problem is it needs to be in a star that is collapsing before it goes super nova. Super Novas are a bit difficult to carry around. In the real world the smallest nukes will be plutonium with a critical mass of about 10 kilograms. The bomb mechanism would weigh more than the plutonium.