Buzz
Dan Lewis is the creator of the widely-read daily newsletter Now I Know ("Discover Something New Every Day, Via Email"). To sign up for his daily emails, click here.
The conclusion of World War II was signaled by the United States deploying two atomic bombs on Japan, sparking a nuclear arms race that dominated much of the 20th century. With nuclear technology being novel, the push for innovation and experimentation was immense. However, few projects were as bizarre as the British nuclear initiative known as the Blue Peacock.
The Blue Peacock strategy had a logical foundation: deploy nuclear weapons as defensive tools by planting nuclear mines across parts of Germany. If the Soviets invaded, these mines would explode, annihilating the attacking forces and creating a radioactive barrier to deter future invasions along the same path.
However, a significant issue arose. To ensure the mines remained functional underground, particularly during winter, they needed to be kept warm. Initially, the British Army thought of using blankets, but a more unconventional solution was proposed: chickens.
By encasing live chickens within the bomb mechanism and surrounding them with a wire barrier to prevent them from damaging the wiring, the British forces discovered that the chickens' body heat could sufficiently maintain the bomb's functionality. However, this heat would diminish after about a week, as the chickens could only be provided with enough food and water to survive for that duration. Once the chickens perished, their body heat would cease.
Although other heating methods were explored, none were ultimately necessary. The British Army intended to deceive their German allies by claiming the Peacocks were power generators meant to support British troops in Germany. The potential political backlash from this deception was the main reason the Blue Peacocks were never put into action.
