The word “Nuclear Weapon” is itself a horrifying. Nuclear weapon reminds us of its dark history. Hearing about it, a strange feeling is felt in people’s hearts. A terrifying scene unfolds in front of their eyes. They hear the sounds of people’s muffled cries. The world itself is a time bomb; if someone triggers it, the entire world will have to bear the consequences. Albert Einstein said, “The atomic bomb is the second most terrible thing that has ever happened to humanity. “Let’s see, what are Nuclear Weapons? Who invented it? What role it played in history? Is it really an alarming threat to humanity?
A nuclear weapon is a powerful explosive device that derives its destructive power from nuclear reactions, releasing an enormous amount of energy. Nuclear weapons studies heavily rely on nuclear physics.
Types of Nuclear Weapons:
The main concepts behind nuclear weapons are Fission Reaction (uses heavy elements like U-235 & Pu-239) and Fusion Reaction (uses light elements like H-2 & H-3). There are many types of nuclear weapons, but the most important weapons are; Atomic Bomb which uses fission reactions to release energy, Hydrogen Bomb which utilizes fusion reactions for increased destructive power and Thermonuclear Weapon that combines fission and fusion reactions.
Nuclear warfare involves various destructive weapons. Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) like Minuteman III and R-36M2 use hydrogen bomb technology, combining fission and fusion reactions for massive yields exceeding 100 kilotons [1 TNT equivalent = 4.184 gigajoules (GJ) = 1 kiloton (kt)]. Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) like Trident II and Bulawa utilize thermonuclear warheads, boasting long-range capabilities over 5,500 miles and high accuracy due to advanced guidance and Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs). Strategic bombers like B-2 Spirit and Tu-160 carry atomic and hydrogen bombs. Tactical nuclear weapons, including artillery shells, short-range missiles (SCUD and Lance), and neutron bombs, rely on atomic bomb technology with yields ranging from 10-100 kilotons. Long-range cruise missiles (Tomahawk and Kh-101) carry fission or fusion warheads, and Enhanced Radiation Warheads (ERWs) release neutron radiation targeting personnel. These nuclear weapons have varying capabilities: massive destruction, long-range precision, adaptable warheads, and variable yields, making them formidable instruments of warfare with devastating global consequences.
History of Nuclear Weapons:
The nuclear weapons/ bomb was not the invention of a single person. The development of nuclear bombs involved a collaborative effort from many scientists and researchers including Leo Szilard (Nuclear chain reaction concept, 1934), Enrico Fermi (Nuclear reactor theory), Otto Hahn (Discovery of nuclear fission, 1938), Edward Teller (Contributed to hydrogen bomb development), J. Robert Oppenheimer (Director of the Los Alamos Laboratory), Ernest Lawrence (Inventor, cyclotron), Richard Feynman (Calculated nuclear reactions), Klaus Fuchs (Theorized nuclear fusion) and many others.
J. Robert Oppenheimer and General Leslie Groves, the military leader of the Manhattan Project, conducted the first test of the atomic bomb, known as the Trinity Test, on July 16, 1945. This historic event took place at the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range in New Mexico, USA. The bomb, codenamed “Gadget,” was a plutonium-based atomic bomb that yielded 21 kilotons, equivalent to 21,000 tons of TNT(Trinitrotoluene). After witnessing the Trinity Test
- Robert Oppenheimer quoted his famous words from the Bhagavad Gita: “If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the mighty one… I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” This phrase also conveyed Oppenheimer’s distress upon witnessing the first nuclear test.
Atom bombs were firstly used in wars on August 6 and 9, 1945 on Japan by United States of America (USA) during the World War II, the most devastating war in the history of mankind. And the USA became the first country in the history to use nuclear weapons in war. The first atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945, on Hiroshima, the city of Japan. This bomb called as “The Little Boy”. Thousands of people (≈80,000) died in the city instantly. The people who survived this bombing told a pain full tale. They said that there was first a blinding light that literally blinded people temporarily, followed by a loud sound that caused permanent hearing loss. Then the ground’s temperature instantly increased around 4000°C that vaporized people in radius. This happened so quickly that only shadows of people remained on the ground. The people could not comprehend what happened around them. Before they could understand this, the shockwaves of the blast followed. The strong winds started blowing. It took less than 15 minutes to convert a shining sky into a black toxic fume. 70% of the buildings were wiped out. It seemed that there was no life here.
And after 3 days, Aug. 9 USA again dropped an atomic bomb called as “A Fat Boy” on Nagasaki. This bomb was even more powerful than “The Little Boy”. And immediately(≈40,000) people died. In the radius of 6.7 Km², all the things destroyed. In these two bombings, approximately 2 lac people lost their lives. However, one positive outcome is that the world has become aware of the devastating effects of nuclear weapons.
Effects of Nuclear Weapons:
Nuclear weapons have long term, short term, environmental, and health effects. Nuclear weapons release large amount of energy in the form Thermal Radiation (Heat): 35-45%, Blast Wave (Kinetic Energy): 35-45%, Ionizing Radiation (Gamma Rays, X-Rays, Alpha, Beta): 10-20%, and Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP): 1-5% of the total energy. These radiations cause immediate and long-term health consequences including; increase risk of cancer,
genetic mutations, increase risk of birth defects, hereditary diseases, water, air and soil contamination. It also causes infertility, sub-fertility and blood disorders (Leukemia). It also causes eye cataracts (cloudy area in eye lens) and other more minor effects in other organs and tissues. It also destroys the ecosystem. Smoke from fires would reduce sunlight by 20-35% and decrease global temperatures by 4-8°C, with severe regional variations in precipitation. The decrease in sunlight and precipitation would devastate the global food chain, putting two billion people at risk of famine. It has been estimated that a regional nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan could claim up to 125 million lives, 2.5 times the number of fatalities in World War II.
International Control of Nuclear Arms: UN, Government Efforts, and Legal Frameworks:
Keeping in view, the adverse effect of nuclear weapons, United Nations (promoting disarmament and non-proliferation efforts), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)(verifying compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy), Nuclear-weapon states (US, Russia, China, France & UK committed to disarmament and non-proliferation under the NPT), Non-nuclear states ( committed to not developing or acquiring nuclear weapons under the NPT), Civil society organizations (promote public awareness and advocacy for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation) and other government and legal frameworks proposed various international treaties and agreements aiming to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and reduce the risk of nuclear conflict.
Some important international treaties and agreement are: Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)signed in 1968, this treaty aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote disarmament, Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) implemented in 1996, this treaty bans nuclear explosions in all environments, including underground tests, Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) established in 2017, this treaty prohibits the development, testing, production, stockpiling, and use of nuclear weapons, New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) signed in 2010, this treaty limits the number of strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems deployed by the United States and Russia, Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)established in 1972, this convention prohibits the development, production, and use of biological weapons and Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) implemented in 1993, this convention prohibits the development, production, and use of chemical weapons. These treaties and agreements have a successful outcome. For example: South Africa’s nuclear disarmament, Ukraine’s nuclear weapons elimination, Argentina and Brazil’s nuclear cooperation, Kazakhstan’s nuclear-free status and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitoring. However, the top nuclear counties with ranking are: Russia, United States, China, France, United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea. But many countries did not signed some of these treaties and some did not ratify these. For example: India did not sign NPT, CTBT & TPNW, Israel (NPT, CTBT, TPNW), Pakistan (NPT, CTBT, TPNW),
North Korea (NPT-withdrew, CTBT, TPNW). The countries that signed but do not ratify are United States (CTBT) and China (CTBT). And the countries that ratified (specific treaties & agreements) are United States (NPT, New START), Russia (NPT, New START), China (NPT),France (NPT) and United Kingdom (NPT).
Conclusion:
At last, but not the least, Nuclear Weapons pose a major threat to global security and stability since their development during World War II, as we can conclude from the above discussion. We can use it (nuclear technology) not only for nuclear weapons and bomb-making but also for beneficial purposes. For example, today it is used to generate electricity. In medical application, it is used for cancer treatment (radiation therapy), diagnostic imaging (PET scans, radioisotopes), and radioisotopes for disease diagnosis and treatment. Similarly, it is being used in various other fields. Until now, no country has used nuclear weapons, except USA which used them in Japan, and we hope that no one will use them in the future.
Nuclear-armed countries spent a staggering $91.4 billion on nuclear weapons in 2023, which breaks down to $2,898 per second. This amount has increased by $10.7 billion compared to the previous year. The United States accounts for the largest share, spending $51.5 billion, followed by China at $11.8 billion, and Russia at $8.3 billion. Regarding Pakistan, its spending on nuclear weapons accounts for approximately 3.6% of its GDP, based on 2023 estimates. Vast amounts of money are spent on creating nuclear weapons. Wouldn’t it be better if this money is used for the welfare of people instead of creating these dangerous weapons?