Questions tagged [nuclear]
For questions about atomic nuclear phenomena and their effects on the world. For heat and power generation applications of nuclear phenomena, use [nuclear-power]. For weapons relying on nuclear phenomena, consider [nuclear weapons] and [weapon-mass-destruction]. Compare [radioactivity], [weak-force] and [strong-force].
148
questions
10
votes
10
answers
3k
views
Everything has a tiny nuclear reactor in it. How much of a concern are illegal nuclear bombs?
In this world, basically every structure (building, factory, car, etc...) has a tiny nuclear reactor in it, and operates like a nuclear submarine. There isn't even an electrical grid; every structure ...
- 13k
1
vote
2
answers
190
views
Effects of Planetary Neutron Bombardment [closed]
A space civilization blackmails Earth by bombarding Venus with massive amounts of neutrons.
It's one of their main technologies and there are reasons for not doing it otherwise.
What would be the ...
- 459
-1
votes
1
answer
142
views
What will happen to nuclear power stations / reactors if chain reaction suddenly stops to provide energy?
What will happen to reactors if nuclear fission chain reactions in some specific areas will just stop working?
Other types of nuclear phenomena (ones with gamma rays, positrons,etc) are still in ...
- 338
4
votes
0
answers
182
views
Ecological consequences of 750-gigaton natural nuke [closed]
A monazite sand placer deposit rich in thorium dioxide is slowly crushed into a sedimentary rock by plate tectonics. Water in it acts as a neutron moderator which ensures the ore formation doesn't ...
- 13.1k
4
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Frozen Star- Red dwarf goes supernova, just because I froze it?
So as I mentioned in my previous question in the series, the parent red dwarf star of a one-planet system, Eridanus, has frozen over due to an unknown reason. By a "frozen red dwarf star", I ...
- 3,422
4
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Can You Make A Tiny Nuclear Reactor By Employing Supercritical Conditions For Brief Periods Of Time?
The idea is that you would have pieces of plutonium or U233 close enough that if left to their own devices they should go supercritical in a fraction of a second. However, in between the pieces you ...
- 2,803
3
votes
3
answers
311
views
Feasibility of Tiny Nuclear Engines
In this setting nuclear material is incredibly cheap, while all hydrocarbons need to be synthesized from scratch. Additionally people have shadow magic which allows them to both easily shield against ...
- 2,803
13
votes
13
answers
5k
views
What sort of nuclear-based transportation would be best suited to cheaply transporting large amount of cargo if radiation weren't a concern?
In this scenario people are in a constant war on an infinite flat world with the geography of Antarctica's interior (but with no liquid water or hydrocarbons). Notably this world has an abundance of ...
- 2,803
4
votes
4
answers
267
views
How can the neutron star factory make heavy elements?
My Primordial galactic empire is facing a huge deficit of heavy elements. So I decided to make a neutron-star factory to make heavy elements like gold and lead
See that purplish thing in the center ...
- 3,422
27
votes
11
answers
6k
views
Nuclear Piston Engine - Is it possible?
While researching unique methods of nuclear energy generation and propulsion, I encountered many things, both in rocketry and aerospace. For instance, the nuclear thermal jet engine. However, I found ...
- 1,660
3
votes
6
answers
1k
views
How would an alien race destroy all nuclear weapons on earth? [closed]
An alien race has decided that earth is the best place to recruit new soldiers and prepare for a war, and they want to eliminate all nuclear weapons (explosive ones, not dirty bombs) to prevent ...
- 40.5k
10
votes
3
answers
475
views
How close can I get to a nuclear explosion with extreme shielding?
Imagine you are in empty space, and a 15 megaton nuclear bomb is very close to you (D=200 meters), but what's also very close to you is a giant (Tungsten?) cylinder (2? meters in diameter, 100? meters ...
18
votes
1
answer
4k
views
How early could we have had nukes?
Suppose a message was sent to the past with a diagram, description, and use, of the simplest fission weapon.
It didn't describe how to mine Uranium, enrich it, or even a description of WHY it works or ...
2
votes
2
answers
111
views
How many power plants could plausibly be built in a given, relatively small area? For e.g. how many nuclear plants could be built in a 1000sq.km area? [closed]
For e.g. how many nuclear plants could be built in a 1000sq.km area?
How many gas/coal/oil plants could be co-located in a small area? Etc.
8
votes
4
answers
740
views
Recreating a fantasy setting in a post-apocalyptic world
I’m imagining a post-apocalyptic scenario as a thought experiment. It takes place 500 years after a nuclear war on the East Coast of what was the US, and is meant to roughly be a recreation of a high ...
