Chinese researchers have allegedly developed a new kind of non-nuclear explosive weapon based on hydrogen fuel. While not nuclear, the new 2kg (4.4 lbs) bomb is designed to cause massive heat and fire damage over a long duration and is far more potent than traditional TNT-based bombs.
According to the team behind it, the secret sauce is magnesium hydride, a powder that stores hydrogen in a solid form. The weapon is detonated using a standard starter explosive that breaks the solid main payload apart into tiny particles, releasing the stored hydrogen gas.
Once this has been completed, the hydrogen gas is readily ignited, producing a fireball with a temperature exceeding 1,832°F (1,000°C). Unlike TNT, which flashes for a split second (~0.12 seconds), this fireball lasts over 2 seconds, 15 times longer.
This produces a “white-hot” fireball that is so hot it can allegedly melt metal over a large area. In this sense, it can be thought of as more akin to napalm or a thermobaric weapon than a nuclear weapon.
To read more, click here.