Comments on: Alexander Litvinenko (RIP) and scumbags from Indy http://www.yourish.com/2006/11/27/2351 Cutting straight to the point Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:56:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: James Curran http://www.yourish.com/2006/11/27/2351/comment-page-1#comment-23201 James Curran Tue, 28 Nov 2006 21:55:47 +0000 http://www.yourish.com/2006/11/27/2351#comment-23201 Ooops... I must apologize for my screwed up math. "<em>The critical mass is inversely proportional to the square of the density</em>" (Wikipedia) --- so the less dense polonium requires a larger critical mass than the more-dense plutonium, specifically, four times than mass rather than 1/4th. So, a critical mass of polonium should be at least 36kg (80 lb) and might be as high as 400kg (880 lb) -- so we've closely left "trace" behind and are oving to needing a small suitcase to a large truck. Ooops… I must apologize for my screwed up math. “The critical mass is inversely proportional to the square of the density” (Wikipedia) — so the less dense polonium requires a larger critical mass than the more-dense plutonium, specifically, four times than mass rather than 1/4th.

So, a critical mass of polonium should be at least 36kg (80 lb) and might be as high as 400kg (880 lb) — so we’ve closely left “trace” behind and are oving to needing a small suitcase to a large truck.

]]> By: SnoopyTheGoon http://www.yourish.com/2006/11/27/2351/comment-page-1#comment-23193 SnoopyTheGoon Tue, 28 Nov 2006 07:25:50 +0000 http://www.yourish.com/2006/11/27/2351#comment-23193 Chsw - this "decontamination" brohaha is largely for show. I seriously doubt that traces of polonium could hurt a person. But let them play with the MSM for a while. Meanwhile the culprit(s) are surely getting scot-free. Chsw – this “decontamination” brohaha is largely for show. I seriously doubt that traces of polonium could hurt a person.

But let them play with the MSM for a while. Meanwhile the culprit(s) are surely getting scot-free.

]]> By: SnoopyTheGoon http://www.yourish.com/2006/11/27/2351/comment-page-1#comment-23192 SnoopyTheGoon Tue, 28 Nov 2006 07:23:41 +0000 http://www.yourish.com/2006/11/27/2351#comment-23192 You are right in your interpretations, James. The laughable thing (besides the fact that even a broken clock shows the right time twice a day) is that by "powerful" the jerks meant something entirely different, of course... You are right in your interpretations, James. The laughable thing (besides the fact that even a broken clock shows the right time twice a day) is that by “powerful” the jerks meant something entirely different, of course…

]]> By: chsw http://www.yourish.com/2006/11/27/2351/comment-page-1#comment-23190 chsw Tue, 28 Nov 2006 03:55:48 +0000 http://www.yourish.com/2006/11/27/2351#comment-23190 The latest theory is that the polonium was sprayed with some sort of atomizer onto Litvinenko's food, or otherwise sprayed on him surreptitiously. The sushi bar has been decontaminated after polonium traces were found there. Scotland Yard and MI-5 (6?) are investigating why traces of polonium have turned up in several locations in London. chsw The latest theory is that the polonium was sprayed with some sort of atomizer onto Litvinenko’s food, or otherwise sprayed on him surreptitiously. The sushi bar has been decontaminated after polonium traces were found there. Scotland Yard and MI-5 (6?) are investigating why traces of polonium have turned up in several locations in London.

chsw

]]> By: James Curran http://www.yourish.com/2006/11/27/2351/comment-page-1#comment-23188 James Curran Mon, 27 Nov 2006 22:39:49 +0000 http://www.yourish.com/2006/11/27/2351#comment-23188 <blockquote>Traces of the material - powerful enough to trigger a nuclear warhead </blockquote> A wonderful little a bit of distortion there. I've coming up with three different ways that could be parsed --- And the funny thing is, for two of them, it's a true statement. Interpretation #1 - The most common reading, and clearly the way they'd hope you'd read it (They found enough material in the room to build a nuclear bomb) is clearly false. I know of no element who critical mass would be considered a "trace". While the critical mass of polonium should only be about a 1/4 of that of plutonium (9kg-100kg depending on the isotope), that's still means at least nearly five pounds (or maybe over 50lb) is needed to build a bomb. Interpretation #2 - "powerful" describes "material", not "trace". or, "They found some material which could be used to build a bomb, but only trace amounts" Interpretation #3 - The important word is "trigger". The essence of a nuclear bomb is that you have a bit less than a critical mass of some fissionable material lying around, and then you shot it with just enough more to put it over the limit. I think that "just enough" is just a few atoms, so that "trace" could be several million times enough to "trigger" a nuclear warhead. It's kinda like saying, "They found a bullet, which could be used a kill someone -- if you had a gun".

Traces of the material – powerful enough to trigger a nuclear warhead

A wonderful little a bit of distortion there. I’ve coming up with three different ways that could be parsed — And the funny thing is, for two of them, it’s a true statement.

Interpretation #1 – The most common reading, and clearly the way they’d hope you’d read it (They found enough material in the room to build a nuclear bomb) is clearly false. I know of no element who critical mass would be considered a “trace”. While the critical mass of polonium should only be about a 1/4 of that of plutonium (9kg-100kg depending on the isotope), that’s still means at least nearly five pounds (or maybe over 50lb) is needed to build a bomb.

Interpretation #2 – “powerful” describes “material”, not “trace”. or, “They found some material which could be used to build a bomb, but only trace amounts”

Interpretation #3 – The important word is “trigger”. The essence of a nuclear bomb is that you have a bit less than a critical mass of some fissionable material lying around, and then you shot it with just enough more to put it over the limit. I think that “just enough” is just a few atoms, so that “trace” could be several million times enough to “trigger” a nuclear warhead. It’s kinda like saying, “They found a bullet, which could be used a kill someone — if you had a gun”.

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