Nuking hurricanes

[_EAllusion]

If you haven't heard the story yet, you will.

It's hard to describe the feeling of unreality American politics has produced in the last several years.

[_Arc]

Sounds like something the Chosen One (a.k.a. Pussy Grabber in Chief) might suggest. -----aaaannnd -- What do you know? That's exactly what it is.

https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-suggested-nuking-hurricanes-to-stop-them-from-hitting-us-2019-8

Such a suggestion would be hilarious if the guy making the suggestion weren't a demonstrably demented dolt who accidentally became the President.

[_honorentheos]

Back in the 90s I read a book whose title I forgot that described the irrational optimistic views held by some in the scientific and engineering community of the 1940s and 50s about the potential of nuclear bombs to serve as tools of creation. This being the era of bomb viewings and the Davey Crockett tactical nuke, the idea a bomb could be used like any other explosive charge to build instant reservoirs or highway routes made their wide spread use in industry seem inevitable. And this optimism proved to be a resistant force when the catastrophic health and environmental consequences from nuclear detonations became more and more apparent and unavoidable.

In that light, it doesn't surprise me to hear Trump suggested their use to try and break up cyclones before they reach the US. It seems on brand. It's also old news in that he reportedly was asking these questions back in 2016-17. I don't know. Score one for the deep state in preventing a bad Sci Fy channel made for TV concept becoming a reality I guess.

[_moksha]

You realize that Trump is only suggesting nuking hurricanes because there is too much opposition to building a wall around them. Saying he had nuked a hurricane would go over well at his campaign rallies.

[_Dr Exiled]

Maybe he doesn't want to be president any more?

[_MeDotOrg]

Back in the 90s I read a book whose title I forgot that described the irrational optimistic views held by some in the scientific and engineering community of the 1940s and 50s about the potential of nuclear bombs to serve as tools of creation. This being the era of bomb viewings and the Davey Crockett tactical nuke, the idea a bomb could be used like any other explosive charge to build instant reservoirs or highway routes made their wide spread use in industry seem inevitable. And this optimism proved to be a resistant force when the catastrophic health and environmental consequences from nuclear detonations became more and more apparent and unavoidable.

In that light, it doesn't surprise me to hear Trump suggested their use to try and break up cyclones before they reach the US. It seems on brand. It's also old news in that he reportedly was asking these questions back in 2016-17. I don't know. Score one for the deep state in preventing a bad Sci Fy channel made for TV concept becoming a reality I guess.

Back in the 70's I read a book called The Curve of Binding Energy, about the early days of nuclear energy research in the United States.

There was discussion of nuclear explosions, where the force of the explosion could be shaped and controlled. A transcontinental tunnel was discussed. Before the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, there was even talk of designing a space ship where nuclear bombs would be stored like Coca Cola bottles in the old-style vending machines (Project Orion). A bomb would be dropped out the bottom of the craft. The detonation would occur a distance from the ship, which would be protected buy a pressure plate/ The force of the explosion would push the craft forward.

But all of these discussion took place before the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. You would think that the President of the United States would know that we are prohibited from exploding nuclear weapons in the atmosphere.

[_Some Schmo]

Because detonating a nuclear weapon isn't enough, we should aim it at something that will spread the fallout as quickly as possible to maximize the damage.

damned clown.

[_Gunnar]

You would think that the President of the United States would know that we are prohibited from exploding nuclear weapons in the atmosphere.

I would not presume to think that Trump knows any such thing, or that he would hesitate to violate that prohibition if he thought he could get away with it and that it would somehow further his own selfish ends or ingratiate him with his base supporters.

[_canpakes]

it would somehow further his own selfish ends or ingratiate him with his base supporters.

Remember, exploding nuclear weapons into hurricanes and having radiation disperse over a wide area is a sure-fire way to own the libs.

MAGA!!1!