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howidiotami.bsky.social @howidiotami.bsky.social

1947.. outdated.. nukes are terrible.. but modern ones (thermo) are far "cleaner".. they kill by shock/heat/pressure.. radiation effects are local unless intentionally engineered for it..

aug 30, 2025, 2:47 pm • 0 0

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Alex Wellerstein @wellerstein.bsky.social

While 1947 is indeed outdated, it is not at all the case that modern thermonuclear weapons are cleaner than the weapons of 1947. Modern thermonuclear weapons are at least 50% fission. They still produce many times more fallout than the weapons of the 1940s would have.

aug 30, 2025, 2:59 pm • 0 0 • view
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howidiotami.bsky.social @howidiotami.bsky.social

IIRC %50 fission claim is wrong.. for the immense majority of the WH in existence...

aug 30, 2025, 3:01 pm • 0 0 • view
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howidiotami.bsky.social @howidiotami.bsky.social

nope, I am wrong.. you are right for most of the sub 500kt warheads...

aug 30, 2025, 3:20 pm • 0 0 • view
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Alex Wellerstein @wellerstein.bsky.social

*At least* 50% fission for strategic thermonuclear weapons. It is probably actually higher in many cases. The weapons are optimized for the yield and weight tradeoff. Not lack of fallout. To optimize for lack of fallout requires a significantly worse yield-to-weight ratio.

aug 30, 2025, 3:03 pm • 0 0 • view
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Alex Wellerstein @wellerstein.bsky.social

Like, you don't have to believe me. But I do literally study this stuff for a living. Feel free to look for a credible source that states the contrary — I'd be interested in seeing it! But this is not an "IIRC" sort of situation. This is, like, my job, man.

aug 30, 2025, 3:04 pm • 0 0 • view
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howidiotami.bsky.social @howidiotami.bsky.social

sorry, I was wrong.. I got solid info for WH in 100-300kt range 50% fusion ratio holds.. only above 1.5Mt fusion dominates.. thanks for the warning...

aug 30, 2025, 3:12 pm • 0 0 • view
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Alex Wellerstein @wellerstein.bsky.social

(The idea that modern weapons are "cleaner" or "clean" in some way is a very strange yet persistent internet idea that has absolutely nothing to do with reality. Not a single person who actually studies nuclear matters believes this. It is entirely without basis.)

aug 30, 2025, 3:00 pm • 0 0 • view