Buzz
Nuclear power has drastically transformed our world. However, some engineers and scientists aren’t satisfied with merely using nuclear energy for basic power grids; they envision a future where nuclear power is everywhere. The items in this list showcase how engineers have taken everyday objects and integrated nuclear reactors into them, just to see if they would work.
10. Convair NB-36 Nuclear Bomber
Following the end of World War II, the world’s superpowers poured resources into building massive bombers designed to deliver nuclear payloads. At that time, nuclear missiles were still in development, and long-range bombers were considered the best option for striking enemy targets. Although impressive, these bombers had limitations, notably their finite range. To solve this problem, the United States explored a groundbreaking solution. The US Army Air Force began testing the concept of placing a nuclear reactor inside a bomber.
The primary USAAF bomber at the time was the enormous B-36 Peacemaker, a plane large enough to carry a nuclear reactor and still take flight. Convair engineers modified the B-36 to accommodate a small nuclear reactor, effectively granting the aircraft unlimited range. Re-designated as the NB-36, this bomber underwent several modifications, including special crew compartments designed with radiation shielding. Additionally, large water tanks were placed around the reactor to absorb any potential radiation leaks.
For the initial flight tests, the reactor was not connected to the engines. Convair chose to use the NB-36 as an aerodynamic test platform for the proposed X-6 bomber, which was designed to be fully nuclear-powered. Even though the reactor was not powering the engines, the USAAF took extensive precautions with the NB-36. The plane was marked with radioactive symbols, and a special hotline was set up to immediately inform the President of the United States in case of any accidents. During one of the tests, the hotline was nearly activated when a smoke alarm went off in the reactor room. Despite a promising beginning, advances in conventional aviation technology and the development of aerial refueling reduced the practicality of a nuclear-powered bomber. Safety concerns also led to the project's cancellation in the early 1960s.
9. Chrysler TV-8 Nuclear Tank
During the Cold War, NATO commanders were concerned that the Soviet Union might use tactical nuclear weapons to shift the balance in a ground war. In response, Chrysler developed a tank designed to withstand a nuclear blast. While the TV-8 never went into mass production and was mainly a prototype, it remains the only serious attempt to create a nuclear-powered tank. To withstand nuclear detonations, the TV-8 featured an unusual design. All critical components, including the weaponry and engine, were located inside a large, bulbous turret. This turret was completely sealed from the outside, and the crew relied on closed-circuit television to monitor their surroundings.
Intended as a medium tank, the TV-8 was equipped with a standard 90-millimeter gun. Unusually for a tank, the turret could not rotate, so the crew had to turn the entire turret to aim at a target. The turret also featured two machine guns mounted in a top cupola, which were aimed by the tank commander. Chrysler initially designed the tank with a conventional power source, but later explored adding a small fission reactor to the back of the turret, making it electrically powered. After evaluating the design, the US Army concluded that it offered few advantages over traditional tanks, and the project was ultimately abandoned.
8. M-29 Davy Crockett Nuclear Bazooka
It's no surprise that various military forces during the Cold War created bizarre weapon systems. However, NATO seemed to have a special talent for applying nuclear technology in strange ways. With the looming threat of a Soviet ground invasion in Europe, the United States poured significant resources into developing compact nuclear weapons that could shift the course of a potential war. A standout among these was the M-29 Davy Crockett, a recoilless gun capable of launching a miniature nuclear warhead, essentially making it a portable nuclear bazooka.
Initially, the Davy Crockett was designed to be carried into battle by a group of soldiers, operated by a three-man crew. However, the Army later adapted the weapon to be mounted on jeeps and other military vehicles. Unfortunately, the Davy Crockett turned out to be a less than effective weapon. Even when set to its maximum yield, the nuclear blast radius was alarmingly small. Furthermore, the radiation it emitted posed a serious long-term threat to the populations of Europe.
The M-29 was relatively easy to operate. Once in position, the crew would first fire a 37-millimeter spotting round to measure the target's distance and determine the launch angle. Despite this, the Davy Crockett’s accuracy left much to be desired. In tests conducted in Nevada, the shells often landed hundreds of feet away from the target, a worrying outcome for a weapon of mass destruction. While the Davy Crockett was deployed in Europe from 1961 to 1971, it never saw combat action.
7. Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter: Nuclear Space Probe
The Galilean moons of Jupiter are home to an array of captivating features, with the possibility of subsurface oceans being one of the most intriguing. Europa and Ganymede are particularly interesting, as where there is water, there is potential for life. NASA has long been fascinated by this concept. To explore these moons, NASA, in collaboration with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has proposed several spacecraft designs. One of the most exciting concepts was the nuclear-powered Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO).
JIMO was a realization of NASA's Project Prometheus, which focused on harnessing nuclear energy to power spacecraft's ion engines. The project demonstrated not only the feasibility of a nuclear-powered probe but also the potential for groundbreaking exploration. JIMO was designed to have significantly more electrical power than current NASA spacecraft, enabling it to explore all three icy moons of Jupiter's Galilean system in a single mission. After completing a phase of research on one moon, the probe could activate its nuclear-powered engines to travel to the next moon for further investigation.
When it came to funding, NASA was initially optimistic about the project’s potential to investigate the moons for signs of life. However, budget concerns soon arose as the true scope of the mission became evident. As discussions around the JIMO project progressed, NASA leaders came to the conclusion that it was simply too expensive and would require scaling back in favor of more feasible missions to explore the moons.
6. Ford Nucleon: Nuclear Car
Before nuclear energy became a source of fear, it was envisioned as a revolutionary power source that could provide clean, long-lasting energy. In the 1950s, engineers and manufacturers explored different ways to harness nuclear energy for various applications. Though most of these ideas remained purely theoretical, Ford pursued an ambitious concept to incorporate a nuclear reactor into a conventional car.
Named the Nucleon, Ford’s concept car was designed with an impressive range in mind. If the technology for small enough reactors and lightweight shielding had existed, the Nucleon would have been capable of traveling up to 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles) before needing a reactor recharge. Rather than refueling the reactor, Ford proposed a network of recharging stations where an old reactor would be swapped for a new one, similar to how gas stations operate, but with radioactive materials involved.
The Nucleon featured an elegant 1950s design, reminiscent of a sci-fi spaceship, with sleek lines and twin tail fins at the back. Passengers would sit in a pod located at the very front of the vehicle, ahead of the front axles. This unusual placement was chosen to keep passengers as far away from the nuclear reactor as possible. However, as time passed and excitement over the Nucleon waned, it became apparent that the idea of having nuclear-powered cars on the roads was too dangerous, and the project was ultimately abandoned.
5. Project Pluto - Nuclear-Powered Jet Engines
In the late 1950s, the United States began focusing on the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. The Air Force conducted numerous experiments to design the most effective and destructive missile systems. Among the more bizarre and chilling of these projects was Project Pluto, a top-secret initiative to develop a nuclear-powered ramjet engine for the Vought SLAM missile. Although the missile itself never advanced beyond the conceptual stage, its nuclear propulsion technology was successfully developed.
Ramjets operate by forcing air through the engine at supersonic speeds, causing compression and generating thrust. The engines in Project Pluto utilized an unshielded nuclear reactor inside the ramjet. Without a shield, the reactor would heat the air in the engine, significantly boosting the thrust available for the missile. With the ramjet system, the SLAM missile could accelerate to Mach 4, delivering devastating damage upon impact.
The first nuclear ramjet, named TORY-IIA, began testing in 1961. Ground tests took place over three years in Nevada, far from populated areas. During the tests, the ramjet proved extremely powerful and well-suited for the SLAM missile. However, as the testing progressed, the Air Force realized the missile's dangers. There were no safe zones for testing a nuclear-powered missile, and the reactor could not be deactivated. If the missile survived its strike, it would leave behind a running, unshielded nuclear reactor in the strike area. After weighing the risks, the Air Force ultimately canceled the project.
4. The Lenin - Nuclear Icebreaker
Icebreaking is a crucial task in the icy northern seas. Without specialized ships designed to break through thick ice, most cargo would be unable to reach northern nations like Russia, paralyzing trade. Before the fall of the Soviet Union, icebreakers were essential but had severe fuel capacity limitations. To address this issue, Soviet shipbuilders installed a nuclear reactor on an icebreaker, creating the Lenin, the world's first nuclear-powered icebreaker and surface ship.
Launched in 1959, the Lenin was as much a symbol of scientific achievement as it was a practical vessel. It was the first of its kind, showcasing Soviet engineering excellence and demonstrating their use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes. The ship’s performance was outstanding, and the Lenin opened the door for a new generation of ships in the Soviet Union. During its service, the Lenin embarked on numerous Arctic expeditions and was awarded the Order of Lenin in 1974, the Soviet Union’s highest honor, typically reserved for soldiers in the line of duty. The Soviets made an exception in this case due to their immense pride in the icebreaker.
Inspired by the success of the Lenin, Soviet shipbuilders went on to create a whole fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers. On the 50th anniversary of its launch, the Lenin was retired in Murmansk, where it now serves as a museum. Even today, the ship stands as a symbol of the early nuclear era and remains one of the most influential vessels in history.
3. LENR - Household Nuclear Reactor
While most of the nuclear technologies discussed here have military applications, Chicago entrepreneur Lewis Larsen envisions a future where nuclear reactors are used in households. After working various jobs throughout his career, Larsen began exploring nuclear energy in the 1990s with the goal of developing small reactors. Since then, his name has become synonymous with this field of innovation.
Larsen is focused on the development of a low-energy nuclear reactor, or LENR. His vision for LENR is to create reactors that could power homes with minimal emissions and be compact enough to fit inside a standard microwave oven. Larsen believes that existing research and technology back up the feasibility of this idea, and the only remaining challenge is engineering. However, critics argue that Larsen’s LENR concept resembles the University of Utah’s cold fusion reactor, which was eventually debunked as a hoax.
Despite the skepticism, Larsen may be on the right track. NASA has recently begun researching LENR-powered plants for both homes and space planes. Physicist Joseph Zawodny has taken Larsen's research seriously, noting that it differs fundamentally from cold fusion. Zawodny is leading a NASA team dedicated to developing nuclear reactors safe enough for homes. Though the concept might seem far-fetched, in 2013, the US Department of Energy allocated small amounts of funding for Zawodny’s project. Time will tell if it bears fruit.
2. SADM and MADM - Nuclear Backpacks and Landmines
As previously mentioned, the United States was deeply concerned about the prospect of fighting a land war with the Soviet Union in Europe. In response, they developed various unconventional weapons, many of which involved small nuclear devices, such as the M-29 Davy Crockett. Among the most unusual nuclear versions of conventional military weapons were the Special and Medium Atomic Demolition Munitions (SADM and MADM), which were essentially nuclear landmines.
The SADM, the more widely used of the two, was a compact nuclear device that could be carried in a special forces backpack. A special forces operative would be expected to parachute behind enemy lines and deploy the small nuclear device to destroy critical infrastructure. In some cases, these devices were also used in scuba operations. After detonation, the surrounding area would become uninhabitable, significantly slowing down any potential invasion across Europe.
SADM training continued throughout the Cold War, but the device was eventually retired. Another related weapon was the MADM, a smaller version of the SADM nuclear backpack. The MADM, which had limited use, was a low-yield device designed to function as a landmine, disrupting enemy troop movements. Thankfully, neither the SADM nor the MADM was ever used in combat.
1. Project Oilsand - Nuclear Oil Mining
Oil drilling is a highly debated subject today, but in the late 1950s, it almost became even more controversial. In 1958, the Canadian government was exploring ways to improve the extraction of bitumen from Alberta’s vast oil sands. Dr. Manley Natland, a well-known geologist, believed he had a solution. After watching the sunset in Saudi Arabia, Natland had an epiphany: a nuclear explosion underground could free the bitumen from the oil sands, providing a fast and efficient method of extraction.
Natland pitched his idea to the US Atomic Energy Commission, which was researching peaceful nuclear explosions as part of Project Plowshare. The AEC approved Natland's proposal and even offered their assistance with the first detonation, planned to take place 10 kilometers (6 miles) underground in the remote Alberta region. However, the proposal was met with skepticism due to concerns about its environmental effects, particularly the potential contamination of groundwater. Eventually, the Canadian government decided to distance itself from nuclear proliferation as both a peace strategy and a way to prevent Canadian nuclear technology from falling into Soviet hands. With the rise of nonproliferation efforts, Natland’s plan was abandoned, ultimately becoming a little-known chapter in Canadian mining history.
