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A nuclear bomb releases energy by exploiting reactions in an atom’s nucleus, where enormous forces are stored. In one type, fission, heavy atoms split into smaller ones, releasing energy and additional neutrons. Those neutrons trigger more splits in a rapidly multiplying chain reaction, converting a small amount of mass into a vast amount of energy according to Einstein’s equation E = mc^2. In another type, fusion, light atoms combine to form heavier ones, releasing even more energy—the same basic process that powers the Sun. In both cases, the energy is unleashed almost instantly, producing extreme heat, intense radiation, and a powerful blast wave.
The effects come in several stages. First is a blinding flash and intense heat that can ignite fires and cause severe burns miles away. Next is the blast wave, created by rapidly expanding superheated air, which can flatten buildings and structures. Finally, nuclear radiation is released, both immediately and later as radioactive fallout, which can contaminate the environment and pose long-term health risks. While the physics behind nuclear weapons is rooted in fundamental atomic science, their destructive power is why their use and spread are tightly controlled and widely regarded as one of the most serious threats created by modern technology.
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