The crazy idea of ​​using nuclear weapons in history

Since its invention, nuclear weapons have been used for many different purposes. Among them are pretty "crazy" ideas.

created by Americans during the Manhattan secret project during World War II for fear of Nazi growth. Since then, this has always been considered an "invention that will end all other inventions" because of the tremendous destructive power of this weapon.

However, few people know that in history, nuclear weapons have also been 'prepared' to use for various 'weird' purposes. Let's review some of these strange ideas through the article below.

1. Throw a nuclear bomb on the Moon

Sputnik is a chain of artificial satellites produced by the Soviet Union in the 1950s to conquer the universe. The success of this idea at that time seriously threatened the face of the United States.

In order to prove its strength, in 1958, the US Air Force initiated Project A119 to detonate a nuclear bomb on the Moon.

The moon was the dream of conquest of both the US and the Soviet Union at that time.

Leonard Reiffel, an Illinois physicist, has revealed some of the details of the project. According to him, 'The main goal of bombing the Moon is a PR move. The US Air Force wants a giant mushroom cloud from the Moon explosion that can be seen from Earth. '

This project was accelerated under the pressure of rumors, especially from Joshua Lederberg - a famous biologist of the time. Accordingly, in 1957, many people suspected that the Soviet Union was carrying out a similar project of US A119: bombing the Moon.

Both countries want to throw nuclear bombs on Earth's natural satellites.

But not only did it create a mushroom-like cloud like a conventional atomic bomb, the Soviet Union intended to shape the explosion, like a red star on the Moon.

America wants to see a "giant mushroom" on the Moon.

While the Soviet Union wants red stars on the Moon.

However, in the end the idea was not realized and to this day, the Moon is still intact.

2. Using nuclear bombs to repel storms

In the mid-50s of the twentieth century, Jack W. Reed - a meteorologist at Sandia Laboratories (USA) conducted a study of atmospheric effects created by the first US hydrogen bomb test.

All nuclear explosions cause terrible atmospheric effects.

After this research, he developed the idea of ​​using nuclear bombs to repel storms. In his report at the 1959 Plowshare program, Reed hypothesized that a nuclear explosion in the eye of the storm would knock out the moist air at the center of the storm.

Replacing it, the cold and condensed air would pour in, displacing the storm gradually.

If the nuclear explosion is at the center of the storm, will the storm be repelled?

This idea has not received much scientific attention. So far, it is still an idea that is rated 'crazy'.

3. Use a nuclear bomb to rearrange the solar system

We know that Earth is the third planet in. However, there was a time when people wanted to change that order. In 1961, in an interview with the Associated Press, astronomer Fritz Zwicky boldly proposed an idea of ​​using nuclear bombs and nuclear weapons in a "cold" way.

Our Solar System was originally like this .

Specifically, he argued that humans could use nuclear weapons to change the orbits of other planets. Mercury and Venus are so close to the Sun that they are too hot, but if they throw nuclear bombs in the proper position, humans can push the orbits of these two planets closer to Earth.

At the same time, nuclear bombs can destroy the toxic atmosphere in Jupiter, separate the planet, bringing life to people on it.

..but under the power of big nuclear explosions .

. maybe, we have a completely new Solar system?

However, this idea of ​​another person eventually falls into oblivion and cannot become a reality.

4. Use gas bombs to build hydroelectric dams in the desert

Referring to the desert, people immediately think of almost endless gold sand dunes, sweltering heat, sandstorms and especially lack of water. Yet since 1912, the German geologist - Albrecht Penck had the ambition to build a large lake in the desert in Egypt.

After the introduction of nuclear weapons, the idea was even more likely to be realized. In the 1970s, West Germany's Lahmeyer International conducted a study to implement the idea. They plan to build a large water canal in the Qattara Depression area, Egypt - where the capital is 436m lower than sea level.

Photograph of Qattara Depression area.

If built successfully, water from the Mediterranean Sea will flow into this area and evaporate under the heat of the desert. The above cycle will create a continuous flow here, facilitating the construction of hydropower plants in the middle of sand dunes.

According to calculations, the cost of such a project will cost 3.3 billion USD (more than 66,000 billion VND at the current exchange rate). However, the company proposed to the Egyptian government at that time, it would make a project with only $ 1.2 billion (about VND 24,000 billion) if using 200 hydrogen bombs.

If you use a hydrogen bomb, it is hoped that you can create a large channel that leads water into the desert.

The result of this proposal failed when the Egyptian government refused to spend too much money on such an uncertain project.