Nuclear Sideshows: The Most Powerful Atomic Bombs

[@RojoFern]

And to think I intended this to be a 10 minute video... But yeah, this video really became something else. What was originally just supposed to be a short look at some big fission bombs turned into an analysis of the muddled and murky world of nuclear weapons terminology, for better or for worse. With that in mind, there are a couple things I feel could use some clarification, and instead of trying to shove it all into an already fairly long (and overdue at this point) video, let this comment serve as a little addendum to it. 1. I know there are going to be those of you who take issue with how often and seemingly loosely I throw around the term "thermonuclear". I use it on three separate weapon designs, when typically only one of them is associated with it. Sloika can really only loosely be considered thermonuclear, and under the traditional definition of the word, the Ulam fission-fission concept is nonsense (since thermonuclear implies fusion reactions taking place). My reasoning for using the term with the latter is that, while not initiating reactions that require thermonuclear conditions to take place (since fission can be sustained under any conditions as long as a critical mass is achieved), the fission-fission design nonetheless generates thermonuclear conditions that sustain far more fission reactions than conventional explosives otherwise would have been able to. Perhaps this is stretching it too far? I don't know, I'll let you judge me on that... 2. TX-15, it's a doozy. I suppose I should first put it out there that the majority of sources and people I've talked to (people that know a whole lot more about nuclear weapons than I do) do consider the TX-15 to be an H-bomb. I think notably Chuck Hansen (who if you don't know is basically the Thomas Grazulis or David Fletcher of American nuclear weapons, if you happen to be a tornado and/or armored vehicle enthusiast respectively) directly references the TX-15 as offering "the prospect of a family of lightweight hydrogen weapons" in The Secret History. My inclusion of the TX-15 in the video really boils down to presenting the potential that its fusion fuel was merely for boosting (which is a possibility), having a spring board to talk about the Ulam fission-fission design, and mostly just wanting to talk about the TX-15 and Castle Nectar, considering how much the other Castle tests dominate the conversation. Even if it is a hydrogen bomb, it's still a damn interesting and unique concept that at the very least differed from the traditional Teller-Ulam design and was intended primarily to be a fission bomb. Alright, that's enough extra rambling. As always, if you find any goofs, gaffes, or screw ups leave a reply so others and myself know about it.

[@dannymac6368]

Thank you! So excited to watch! Always such a happy moment every time you upload something new. 🤗 Take care!

[@cornellkirk8946]

Great video but I’m almost certain the first bomb was an implosion type, the gadget tested at Nevada, the first nuclear bomb was a plutonium implosion type. Only the first deployed in combat was a gun type (little boy)

[@RojoFern]

This is correct, the first nuclear physics package to actually be assembled and tested was a plutonium implosion bomb. However, the uranium gun-type bomb predates it as a concept, hence "first conceived". The only reason a gun-type bomb wasn't tested was because it was basically guaranteed to work, as well as guaranteed not to work if plutonium was used as the fuel.

[@cornellkirk8946]

@@RojoFern thanks for that, fantastic video by the way! 👌

[@ynptrip]

Not sure if you were making a joke, but the word for a failure is "fizzle" not "fissile"

[@Nefville]

I just have to say this real quick, your full-length videos are some of if not the best I've seen on this platform in the 17 years I've been watching. I've seen tens of thousands of videos and what you're doing should win awards (and subscribers). If you can keep this up I think like the Orange Herald, this channel is going to be big.

[@cornellkirk8946]

I agree

[@WalkerWeathers]

Couldn’t have said it better myself. I very rarely rewatch videos or reread books simply because I enjoy them, but these are some of the select few that make that list.

[@joshfrommilan6130]

Took the words right out of my mouth. Seriously, I’ve been consuming long-form content for over a decade at this point. The pacing, scripting, music choice, all have been fantastically put together. I wasn’t before writing this, but I’m subscribing, and I sincerely hope more people are able to find this channel.

[@Nefville]

@@joshfrommilan6130 Check out his earlier one on mushroom clouds. I think I can almost definitively say that's the best video on this platform. Or at least I cannot remember a better one. This guy is so good.

[@JohnCompton1]

ditto kiddo

[@n9go]

do you think oppenheimer would have liked lethal company

[@RojoFern]

oppenheimer invented the infinite item glitch

[@bigman271]

now i am become lethal, destroyer of companies

[@thekeithfulbarrums]

British Cold War military engineering was always a cocktail of ‘interesting’ names and even more ‘interesting’ designs. It’s how we ended up fielding an interceptor that could break the sound barrier climbing vertically, but couldn’t intercept a bomber more than 150 Nm away. Brilliant video as always, Mr Fern. I really liked the detail about the different nuclear mechanisms.

[@iitzfizz]

I quite like Yellow Sun, I mean you know exactly what you're getting there; no doubting lol

[@gianthairypickle7545]

This channel and the editing and effort you put into your content inspires me, thank you! I feel like the videos you make would be a kin to something I’d create if I were a KZbinr much love ❤️

[@Indrid__Cold]

As a nuclear weapons expert with over five decades of experience, I found this video to be exceptionally informative and engaging. The presenter's deep knowledge of the subject matter was evident, and their ability to convey complex concepts in a clear and compelling manner was truly impressive. It is rare to encounter individuals who possess such a profound understanding of this specialized field, combined with the exceptional communication skills necessary to effectively convey the awe-inspiring nature of the topic. I extend my sincere compliments to the presenter for their outstanding work.

[@johndawson6057]

Amateur😂 I am also a nuclear weapons expert with over 500 years of experience and I also find this video to be correct.

[@leoarc1061]

Perhaps you can help me, then :) How is a plutonium core physically compressed? Is it because there are voids in the casting, or are the chemical explosives actually strong enough to overcome the atoms repelling force? Many thanks in advance.

[@niehlsbohr]

Wow, you actually got the chemistry right, so few science communicators do. Breaking chemical bonds requires energy and forming new, more stable, lower potential energy bonds releases energy. As a chem professor, it's always bugged the hell out of me, when folks say breaking bonds releases energy. Thank you!

[@bryantchacko2861]

thank you niehls bohr, creator of the bohr model of the atom

[@leoarc1061]

Is that always, necessarily, the case? Aren't there exceptions?

[@randomknowledgeperson2872]

PLEASE make a video about volcano sizes. i love volcanos and would love to see a video about the biggest eruptions in history told in your style :)

[@danieldoesdumbstuff]

I fux with this

[@dutchess406]

Agreed

[@hithedragon7842]

Ever since I first watched the tornado and mushroom cloud videos, I've hoped for a similar one about volcanoes. The way he describes these sorts of things in terms of scale is just perfect.

[@Joogoo96]

Fern, you're like the SummoningSalt of nukes and I'm here for it.

[@baldwin3243]

I feel like EmpLemon is a more apt comparison given his origins in ytp

[@andrewasfendis7407]

Big words. And I think I agree.

[@andrewasfendis7407]

The Summoning Salt bit I mean.

[@eilistraeepreistess]

Jon Bois more like

[@bksl09]

This being the backstory to one of the OG youtube memes was unexpected but lovely to witness

[@gbb3525]

You're funny, but not annoying in the same way that other creators come off in videos like this

[@molliemicrobe]

I was just rewatching your Mushroom Clouds video like 2 days ago! It always gives me such existential dread. Excellent timing

[@radioaktiv2531]

I'm a nuclear energy nerd and I watched this because it interests me. What I didn't expect was the absolutely fantastic editing and style of this video.

[@ButtersTheGreat1]

I love that you took those lazy comparison videos that would clutter up everyones recommended feed for years and put the same amount of work into it making a video Essay like a Jon Bois or a EMP Lemon. Have to confess avoided your videos for a bit thinking they were just like those comparison videos. So glad I clicked it.

[@Vernoypottery]

Dude I’ve come back to this video probably 10 times now. Your essays are some of the best content I’ve ever seen on this platform.

[@DesertPunks]

This is quickly becoming my favorite channel, as a cold war enthusiast and a gmod player your channel is really great. Also the use of Boards of Canada was a nice touch. Cheers.

[@isobarkley]

the editing of this video is absolute comedy. instant sub

[@FOWBOWZ]

Your videos got a special quality about them and I'm all here for it. I love your work, man.

[@01_SPACE_C0WB0Y]

This is one of the greatest videos I have ever seen. The editing and use of music and media is perfect

[@coquio]

Honestly, you're such an insanely underrated channel

[@andrewasfendis7407]

Trinity and Beyond music was fantastic, like a character. The music in this video is similarly fantastic. So different and entertaining. Great script too. Really well done.

[@mattcarafa210]

your presentation of the complicated workings of big fusion bombs is awesome. loved the video, right up there with trinity and beyond

[@dale116dot7]

I am impressed. You got the shapes of the materials right in the gun weapon, most people get it backwards. And you didn’t forget Urchin in gadget.

[@mrtno4582]

Attemping to manifest the amount of subs this guy deserves.

[@martinselame9029]

Fun fact: Sakharov's layered fission design was one of the main reasons Sputnik was the first ever satellite. Since the alarm clock/layer cake bombs were heavier than the Teller-Ulam ones, the R-7 Semiorka (the first operational ICBM) was much more powerfull than needed, enough to put a satellite into orbit.

[@iitzfizz]

I was just going to say how have I never seen this video before since I've watched just about everything youtube has to offer on the subject of atomic/hydrogen bombs then I saw it was just uploaded 1 day ago. Than you!! I now have something to watch!! Really enjoyed your mushroom cloud video.

[@ChampDiamondFoot4954]

After seeing your video on the scale of mushroom clouds. The explanations and pacing are much more refined here than the other video. What an excellent video.

[@DavidtheDoom]

Your channel is seriously underrated and underexposed. The delivery is hilarious with great delivery as well as very in-depth and well researched. I hope you reach a wider audience with your niche topics! :)

[@shanelennon7397]

nice use of olson at the end. one of my favourite pieces of music

[@jashbeptic]

These are solid S-tier videos like a beautiful mix of Ahoy style visuals and nuclear science. Headphones recommended, that beginning use of stereo was *chefs kiss*

[@VaultTecCitizens]

I love every piece of music used in this.

[@VERIFIED-DEITY]

Most certainly one of the best to ever do it, every single piece of long form content to come from this channel is an absolute masterclass Edit: a word

[@zikashauna4928]

This video was so good, I love your long form content! You deserve so many more subscribers and views, your work is fantastic! I hope your channel explodes (har har) with viewership! Also thanks for the inclusion of the Saturn V, we space nerds love that stuff!

[@Dr_Petey_Wheatstraw]

The research, editing, storytelling, graphics, and footage are fantastic. Bravo, keep doing great work.

[@mrtux5647]

You are quickly becoming my favorite youtuber you bring a very refreshing style to your long length videos keep up the amazing work it will pay off

[@karolsowula4176]

Wake up babe, RojoFern posted new mildly informative video essay!

[@Lincento53]

Great video! Superb choice of music🎶. It was fun to watch 😄

[@bradboardwell8295]

One of.... if not, the best production videos on atomic and hydrogen bombs that I've ever seen.!!!!! The music absolutely makes it. You Sir, have created a masterpiece, and earned a new subscriber 👍🏼💪🏻

[@colinbarnard6512]

New Member here: what the gentleman said below, I completely agree. Stylist, informative, even for people with a good knowledge of the subject. Professional, and all-and-all....pretty damn good! Thank you! ....and, P.S.: I really appreciate 'Sky' in the soundtrack.

[@PonteBata]

Probably one of the best videos about A-bombs I've ever seen here. Thanks algorythm

[@jett_phil]

You channel doesn't just deserve more views, it NEEDS more views. Awesome video

[@Rikko343]

I realy have to say Rojo, your videos are a blast. They are very well made, the animations are simple but so easy to understand and when you are listening you realize that you defenetly made your homework. I love you atom Videos and i hope you keep making them, or maybe make somem in that style on other physics related themes. keep your good work up, i will be here watching.

[@Melody_Raventress]

You just won yourself a subscriber! I'm always looking for channels covering nuclear topics/history intelligently. Plus you even covered my favorite nuclear weapon design. Also it's a "fizzle" not a "fissile"

[@hunterparke9059]

My man, your videos are some of the jammiest and most well done pieces of education I have seen, and this stuff is all I watch because I’m a massive dork, thanks for making these:)

[@IxDeepOne]

6:08 I love you, Atomic Gun!

[@captaincat1743]

Great vid, I subbed. About nuclear fission - yes some mass is converted to electromagnetic energy, but most of the kinetic energy comes from the fission products (in the illustration these are Barium and Krypton), both having net positive charges so they violently repel each other. Nothing you said contradicted this, but it wasn't mentioned so I added this point for clarification.

[@interstellarsurfer]

Most underrated creator on KZbin.

[@Dixon_1974]

If you want a screaming geiger counter, I have some friends with a >100,000 cpm cabinet with fiesta plates.

[@williamkane]

I had to listen twice at 43:33, but that is "Olson" from Boards of Canada for sure - you should have included more tracks from them, ideally from their latest album, named "Tomorrow's Harvest", that entire album is quite different from their usual tunes - it definitely has that "post-apocalypse, WW3 nuclear-annihilation" vibe. I applaud you on your great music taste regardless, but one thing you missed out on was the Shrimp "accident" - positioning yourself for a theoretical 2-5 MT blast and ending up at over 15 MT for sure was not what they wanted, and they ended up contaminating 23 crew on the "Daigo Fukuryū Maru" shipping vessel alongside others, by nuclear fallout raining down on the vessels. Many of the crews did not make it in the long term, due to radiation-induced cancer and whatnot. Otherwise, a flawless video and a great refresher on my knowledge of the first nuclear bombs / devices. - William 👍♥

[@donut3702]

The Return of the King

[@congruentcrib]

3 minutes in and can I just say that it makes me so happy that you separated fusion and fission instead of just calling they “nuclear” People still don’t understand there is a difference. All they know is bomb small… fireball big…

[@superking208]

Just watched the tornado video, the mushroom cloud video, and then this absolute masterpiece all in a row. You're a fantastic video essayist, and I'm now subscribed and psyched for the future of the channel! (Also, do you consider Jon Bois an inspiration? Your style reminds me of his, and I mean that as the highest of compliments.)

[@RojoFern]

Jon has 100% been an inspiration of mine, and he is probably the single biggest reason as to why I fell in love with 70/80s library music

[@jankybit]

Fun video, but beyond that, it introduced me to Trevor Bastow's music and I'm in love.

[@pepsihat]

RojoFern with another banger

[@matheusvieira9736]

Pls make a video showing the evolution of nuclear bombs. Ur documentaries are awesome

[@bksl09]

29:50 is a really neat moment. Excellent use of music and video

[@Hanna_Stefanowska]

I've said this before, but fantastic video!! I subscribed after you posted the tornado one. Love your content

[@FloppaEnjoy]

Great video however it is important to note at 9:06 that U-238 IS fissionable, it is NOT fissile like U-235. They are two different terms and mean two different things.

[@MrTylerStricker]

Some of the best editing anywhere on YT can be found right here, just look in-between the atoms...

[@m.streicher8286]

This channel is filling the hole left in my heart by the privatisation of the Hypohystericalhistory's guide on nuclear weapons.

[@andrewdrednaught]

This is a lot of research! Well done, sir.

[@markos.5539]

21:03 that UK jumpscare was wild bro

[@derpy-noodles4452]

Would you consider doing a video about craters? From Atomic weapons, meteors, ect?

[@TheBinarygenius]

Loved and subbed, excellent content but I really hate you because now I have to binge watch all your other videos 😁 great work and a very good style of narration, I award you a big POB (Pat On the Back).

[@nickthompson9697]

Subscribed. Can't believe I haven't checked out this channel yet.

[@mikado4786]

In all the videos in all the channels I watch in all the world, you had to come into my feed. Please keep producing these beautiful and mildly informative video essays. You are one of the most talented fellows on the platform. Keep up the good work.

[@SomeGuyFromMalta]

My man is not mildly infromative this shit is heat 🔥🔥🔥

[@itsmetheghost4993]

''mildly informational'' You left out all Hydrogen bombs till this date? I'm so sad :( Amazing video ;)

[@cod6guy12]

If you do another vid on nukes It'd be cool to see more of the experimental / hypothetical future designs like neutron bombs, nuclear shaped charges, casaba howitzers etc.

[@chesspiece81]

Wow, just wow. This is the best atomic upload I've seen. I am a new subscriber and I hope the channel has lots of uploads of this caliber.

[@lephishe6271]

Imagine getting to tell people you were an armed guard for Orange Herald.

[@WarlordEnthusiast]

This video has no reason to be this good, and yet it is. Subscribed.

[@katiescarlett2539]

Well done! Background music is a bit loud and drowns out your voice, but otherwise this is one of the best videos I’ve seen on KZbin on ANY subject. Great work!

[@herpderptheshep]

It's oddly reassuring to think that for the rest of my life, every time I watch any video about nuclear weapons I will get to hear a song from the CONELRAD mod for F:NV

[@HE-pu3nt]

Your videos are wonderful. I'm British, so I feel that I am good at judging dead-pan humour, and sarcasm. The use of these is pretty much our national sport. I judge your film to be exceptionally funny, whilst been serious about a serious subject.

[@ratehrichmond8867]

This guy deserves more subscribers. Great video.

[@klnsbl]

your comedic timing is genius

[@hunterhalo2]

Every once in a while you stumble across a small channel with wanna see scream to 500K+ subscribers, to the top!

[@mikevivona-z2u]

Amazing work! Great documentary. I, too, am fascinated with Ivy King. Oak, Ivy Mike, Castle Yankee, George, and the designated- but not U.S. named Russian bombs that beat Castle Bravo's yield have always absolutely intrigued me.

[@JamesRussller]

Fantastic video, so well done, please give us more!

[@ohdahngboi_2237]

This channel is destined for greatness

[@mr.Celsius]

bro wake up rojofern released a new mildly informative video essey.

[@johntowner1893]

I have a toy alligator, a hydraulic press, and a camera, now all I need is a PlayStation version of NFS and all the dictators will be calling me up on no time

[@philidor9657]

Great video. Really well done and the presentation and tone was fantastic throughout.

[@supersasquatch]

I like the junkball transmission format 👍

[@SugmaBalls-vg6jr]

Hell yeah! Babe wake up, rojo fern posted!

[@gen2mediainc.577]

IT HAPPENED

[@rifleman1992]

Omg I love your videos! We demand more!!!!

[@mysteriousmemethief]

Ending that with the wtf boom was a stroke of genius

[@Pdro-gw7lu]

The music selection for this piece is excellent imo. Is there a track list?

[@tobihighvoltage]

Another banger. Thanks for all the effort you put into these, it really shows and always makes me look forward to watching.

[@ShornDunlevy]

It's interesting to note that the US tested 233-U in a bomb & worked out the critical mass of ALL known fissile isotopes. Some are extremely hard to obtain in quantities to make a bomb but don't presume that because it hasn't been done yet, it won't be possible to produce nuclear weapons using Np-236, for example. Given it's lower critical mass, Np-236 might allow for smaller weapons. But I presume it's long been considered that 239-Pu is by far the cheapest & most available material. But that MAY change. It's worth noting that the physical properties of fissile materials posed some interesting problems. I know that the British bomb were the result of unofficial communication between US & UK bomb designers. Pu has significant problems on the physical level & a KEY bit of information was that Pu alloyed to small quantities of another metal solved many problems. It's interesting that some nations point out that the UK likely only has 120-160 deliverable nuclear weapons but to be honest, how many does one need? Even if ⅔ of the warheads were intercepted, that still means that 40-105 of them WILL hit their targets. I also find it interesting that the UK does NOT use a PAL. In the event of war, all it takes is for a submarine captain & their weapons engineer to agree for missiles to fly. I think that an interesting concept. Lastly, I find the British way of deciding if their nation had been subject to a massive nuclear strike are, for want of a better word, quaint. The BBC World Service is broadcast worldwide and so 3 times a day, British submarine captains & weapons engineers gather around the radio to check if the BBC is still broadcasting. AFAIK it's a uniquely British solution because it does not rely on a command to launch but rather a broadcast that is intended to deter launch. It's an unusual nuclear strategy. Because it would be VERY hard to fake a BBC radio broadcast. I don't know but I suspect that BBC radio broadcasters still wear a suit when delivering the 'Weather Forecast for Shipping' & world news.

[@darksu6947]

I'm not sure what a Rojofern is but I want one for Christmas next year. Everytime I watch one of your videos I sit there like this 😮 the whole time

[@leoarc1061]

I think that we could argue for an entire week about what is an H-bomb and what is not. It's like trying to figure out when a color range stops being orange and starts being red instead. Maybe it can be figured out mathematically using simple RGB color ratios, but even then one could argue on subjective grounds. So, some bombs are clearly boosted fission, others are clearly H-bombs. The stuff in the middle which could go either way? Maybe we ought to find a name for it. Maybe "trans-fusion bombs", just like "transonic flow" lays in between subsonic and supersonic flow while being able to be one or the other?

[@Razor-gx2dq]

Great as always, in regards to that incident in Georgia there was a similar event in Farro NC.

[@limabravo6065]

That nuclear artillery shell shot from atomic Annie yielded a blast equal to that of little boy, basically a hiroshima level explosion from a gun. And yes that gun was enormous but still ot shows how quickly the weapons were advancing

[@jasras5743]

He just don’t miss

[@ike_uwu]

YOOOOO ROJOFERN UPLOAD LETS GOO

[@hollisspear6278]

nice selection of backing tracks

[@stijnjanssens571]

maaan how could the algorithm keep this from me for 2 damn months

[@tayvanrope9021]

I loved watching this. Great editing. Love it.