The worrying news that individuals affiliated with the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) have undertaken hostile surveillance at a Belgian nuclear research facility has created growing speculation about the group’s nuclear ambitions.
Nuclear weapons and dirty bombs are frequently mentioned in the same breath. However, they are two distinct technologies. Understanding the differences between these weapons and the damage they can cause can ground speculation in reality—and help us work out the most likely route a terrorist organization such as ISIS may take in the future.
There are two types of actual nuclear weapon—fission and thermonuclear devices. Fission bombs are fueled with fissile material such as uranium and plutonium. When detonated, the atoms in the weapon’s core split and release huge amounts of energy—producing a nuclear explosion. Thermonuclear weapons use a fission bomb to ignite special fuel, consisting of light hydrogen isotopes. These nuclei are forced together—undergoing nuclear fusion—releasing an even larger explosion.
