US military pioneers death ray bomb

Guardian ^ | 08/14/03 | David Adam and Suzanne Goldenberg

[bedolido]

wasn't there a similar bomb talked about in the 70's? I think it was called the Neutron bomb.

[rrrod]

wow.....lov it when the euroweenies get soooooooooo upset

[Pikamax]

"American military scientists are developing a weapon which kills by delivering an enormous burst of high-energy gamma rays, it is claimed today. "

Hey, this is how The Hulk got started.

[DallasMike]

...could well fuel charges that Washington risks triggering a new arms race.

With who?

[SengirV]

HULK SMASH!!!

[GreenLanternCorps]

Hey, gamma rays are also how the Fantastic Four got there powers too! I got dibs on Human Torch!


Unless there are some radioactive spiders around...

[CholeraJoe]

You are correct, however the neutron bomb actually detonated and went "boom." As I read this article, these bombs go poof and kill everything within a kilometer or two.

[rrrod]

rigorous testing is required..may i suggest france and germany as perfect testing sites

[dts32041]

Hum that is what I thought, BTW it was one of two things worth a damn done by billy carter's brother.

[Puppage]

[inquest]

China, for one, since they already have the neutron bomb (which we essentially gave to them). Although it would be more accurate to say that we're finally joining the arms race, not "triggering" it.

[bmwcyle]

You are correct. They might be trying to project the rays with a different method but the killing element is the same.

[Howie]

I remember whispers of a "death ray" battle-rifle. One that could slice an advancing force in half like butter. One that could fry tanks and jets from a mile away. If we developed it we obviously don't have the huevos to deploy it.

[gnarledmaw]

You realize that now that youve stumbled upon the Pentagons "real" intent of this program (mutant generation) that you are either going to fall repeatedly in the shower or have your brakes go out, no?

[r9etb]

Four years ago, scientists at the University of Texas in Dallas showed that it was possible to trigger this effect artificially. The possibility that this decay process, which usually takes place very slowly, could be accelerated and used in a weapon grabbed the attention of the Pentagon. Scientists at the Air Force Research Laboratory in New Mexico are studying whether this can be achieved.

More interestingly, this would appear to offer a new and interesting approach to the disposal of radioactive waste -- which up to now has been the biggest bugaboo facing the nuclear power industry.

[tom h]

"wasn't there a similar bomb talked about in the 70's? I think it was called the Neutron bomb."

Uhhh ... the neutron bomb emits neutrons, and the gamma ray bomb emits gamma rays. Kinda different -- especially to a nuclear physicist.

[spoiler2]

"...allow military commanders to increase firepower without being forced to push the nuclear button."

This is like arguing over the technicalities of full-term abortion. You're still killing masses of innocent people, who aren't involved in the conflict personally, no matter HOW you kill them.

I really thought we had learned something with the Iraq conflict, such as how to wage a concentrated campaign on an avowed madman, with the LEAST amount of unintended deaths of civilians.

[bedolido]

Uhhh ... the neutron bomb emits neutrons, and the gamma ray bomb emits gamma rays. Kinda different -- especially to a nuclear physicist.

From a lay person (who slept thru his science classes)... thanks for the needed info.

[Cincinatus]

Hey, gamma rays are also how the Fantastic Four got there powers too!

Nope. Reed Richards et al. were exposed to cosmic rays, which are the high energy nuclei of heavy elements, like iron. They are mostly created in, and thrown about the galaxy from, exploding supernovae.