Questions tagged [nuclear-weapons]
For questions about nuclear weapons. For example, topics could be about their usage in war, their construction, or their effect in a given scenario. Also consider using the tag [weapon-mass-destruction]. Consider reviewing "The Effects of Nuclear Weapons" (link in tag wiki) before asking your question.
155
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
3
answers
382
views
What would large scale war with tactical nukes look like? [closed]
In this world set in a near future setting, nuclear weapons are somewhat widespread by both sides. The thing is, due to dimensional shenanigans, both sides are mostly unable to strike the strategic ...
- 1,349
11
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Can this flying island survive a 15kt nuke? (and if yes, how much more can it take?)
So there's a flying island about 500 to 600 metres in diameter and roughly 300 metres in height in it's highest point. It is mostly basalt and other volcanic rocks, with a layer of dirt on top.
The ...
- 483
8
votes
11
answers
5k
views
Someone just nuked your very expensive ship. What is keeping your ship intact?
So, in my setting, the (space) warships can get pretty big and tough. Some of the big ones can take hundreds of hits and still keep going. However, the problem I've run into is Nukes. Even if your ...
- 2,095
1
vote
1
answer
129
views
How long would a stock of nuclear warheads and their delivery systems remain viable? [duplicate]
My world is recovering from a period of chaos lasting around 50 years, during which time many things were not maintained, or only sporadically maintained. My story takes place in (what used to be) a ...
- 421
14
votes
17
answers
7k
views
Making nuclear weapons almost impossible to build
The Issue
I am currently working on a world that is supposed to take place around the 1980s, in terms of parity with Earth, technology-wise. There is a lot of magic mixed into it as well.
The real ...
- 1,548
4
votes
6
answers
771
views
How might a spacefaring civilization detect nuclear weaponry? Could they?
In a hypothetical spacefaring civilization, there is a belligerent militant group that has acquired access to nuclear armaments, with the intent of using them on a densely populated urban world. If ...
- 269
22
votes
5
answers
6k
views
How to make nuclear fireworks?
Meg Al O'man, empress of all the lands where the sun never sets, bringer of peace across the oceans, archmaster of the secret order of the water puppets and so on and so forth has set her mind on ...
- 291k
14
votes
7
answers
5k
views
Can we hit the spaceship
Setting: close to present day. Aliens in ships about the size of the Pentagon are detected at about 10 AU, moving at about 100km/s, and will therefore take about 6 months to arrive.
Realistically at ...
- 2,081
4
votes
6
answers
1k
views
How feasible are nukes as a spotting system in space?
In the semi-realistic space combat I design, the following rock-paper-scissors relation holds:
lasers beat rockets
rockets beat armor
armor beats lasers
The level of technology is not too futuristic:...
- 1,138
5
votes
4
answers
519
views
How small can a nuclear weapon get?
Context
I am writing the section following a critical space battle where a rogue UNN Pearl of the Stars is taken down, and its CIC, reactor and, most importantly, its payload of 4 planet buster 15-...
- 1,994
1
vote
4
answers
263
views
How close to modern technology can humans plausibly get without discovering nukes?
This is for humans living on a similar planet as earth and similar tech-development (in my setting, there is magic, but I want the most ideal, non-magic answer to this so I can better tweak the other ...
- 2,033
2
votes
2
answers
143
views
Could You Use Artificial Volcanoes To Create Buildings?
For the purposes of this question the builders are incredibly wealthy, have access to cheap nukes to use for excavation, and everyone in this world is immune to radiation.
The technology is decades ...
- 2,803
0
votes
4
answers
1k
views
How big would the AoE/destruction of a nuke 72 times smaller than normal be assuming it still works at that scale?
I had the idea of a nuke that is scaled down for roughly 1 inch tall cockroaches. Why would they make one at all? Because it sounds cool. Would it effect them since they are roaches? Probably not.
...
- 1,453
2
votes
4
answers
138
views
Are we able to generate fusion by firing macroscopic particles really fast?
Big gun in space (let's not care about how the gun will work yet)
Pew pew,
If we fire fusion fuel,
Would we be able to cause a fusion reaction upon the particle's impact?
What speed would that take?
- 431