Latest news with #LittleBoy
India.com
21 hours ago
- Science
- India.com
Scary! Earthquake of 8.8 magnitude is equal to explosion of 14300 nuclear bombs like Hiroshima
Scary! Earthquake of 8.8 magnitude is equal to explosion of 14300 nuclear bombs like Hiroshima One of the world's strongest earthquakes since 2011 struck Russia's Far East early Wednesday, with a powerful 8.8-magnitude tremor jolting the Kamchatka Peninsula and triggering tsunami alerts across the northern Pacific. The quake, the strongest in the region since 1952, was followed by intense aftershocks, with seismologists warning of further tremors up to magnitude 7.5 in the coming weeks. An earthquake of magnitude 8.8 is equivalent to the energy of 14300 atomic bombs like Hiroshima exploding simultaneously. But is this comparison correct? And why is this earthquake being considered so dangerous? Let us understand how much impact it will have based on scientific facts and research. We will also see why countries like Russia and Japan are afraid of this earthquake? What is its connection with plain areas like India? How powerful is a magnitude 8.8 earthquake? The intensity of an earthquake is measured on the Richter scale or Moment Magnitude scale (Mw). This is a logarithmic scale, meaning that with every one digit increase, the energy increases 31.6 times. For example, an earthquake of magnitude 8.8 is 31.6 times more powerful than an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 and about 1000 times more powerful than an earthquake of magnitude 6.8. An earthquake of magnitude 8.8 falls in the category of 'Great Earthquake'. It is so powerful that it can destroy buildings, roads and entire cities. Its energy is measured in Joules. According to scientists, an earthquake of magnitude 8.8 releases approximately 9 x 10^17 Joules of energy. This is such a huge amount that to understand it, we compare it with the energy of an atomic bomb. Energy and comparison of atomic bombs The atomic bomb ('Little Boy') dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 was equivalent to 15 kilotons of TNT. This means that it released 6.3 x 10^13 joules of energy. One kiloton of TNT is equivalent to 4.184 x 10^12 joules. Now, if we compare the energy of a magnitude 8.8 earthquake (9 x 10^17 joules) to the energy of the Hiroshima bomb, we will know how many bombs it is equivalent to. Energy of a magnitude 8.8 earthquake: 9 x 10^17 joules Energy of the Hiroshima bomb : 6.3 x 10^13 joules Divide these two: (9 x 10^17) ÷ (6.3 x 10^13) = 1.43 x 10^4. That is, 14,300 Hiroshima atomic bombs. Some sources put the number at 9,000 Hiroshima bombs. The difference may be due to minor variations in the calculations or different assumptions (such as the depth of the earthquake or the nature of the fault).
The Hill
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Iran's nuclear phoenix is rising
Like a mythical Phoenix rising from its own ashes, a very real and deadly nuclear weapons program is in danger of resurrecting itself in Iran. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his hardliners remain undeterred after Israel and the U.S. targeted key nuclear facilities in Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz in June. Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, admitted this when he told Bret Baier on Fox News that Tehran 'cannot give up our enrichment.' Araghchi also admitted that Iran's facilities 'have been damaged, seriously damaged, the extent of which is now under evaluation.' President Trump seized on Araghchi's talking point. He quickly fired off a Truth Social post declaring, 'Fake News CNN should immediately fire their phony 'reporter' and apologize to me and the great pilots who 'OBLITERATED' Iran's nuclear sites.' 'Obliterated' is a strong word, especially since Iran's nuclear weapons program is significantly larger than just three enrichment sites — and Trump's own intelligence community professes uncertainty about how much of Iran's program remains. Likewise, any admission from Araghchi should be treated with skepticism. Although it could be truthful, it also could be intentional deception. After all, Araghchi is the man who repeatedly claimed that Iran's nuclear program was peaceful. Earlier in May, while speaking in Qatar, Araghchi claimed that Tehran was not seeking nukes or other weapons of mass destruction. That briefs well, until you consider that at a maximum, no more than 5 percent highly enriched uranium is needed for nuclear fuel power rods, hospital experiments and radiation equipment. Prior to the Israeli and U.S. strikes, Iran had enriched at least 880 pounds of highly enriched uranium to 60 percent according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Relatively speaking, even if it would take some time for Iran to enrich that stockpile to weapons-grade highly enriched uranium (90 percent ) — the amount needed for a modern nuclear missile strike — it could use the 60 percent stockpile it already has to construct Hiroshima-like nuclear bombs. Iran Watch estimates that Khamenei has enough to build 'one or more' of the gun-type bomb known as 'Little Boy,' the type of used in Hiroshima. It would only take 132 pounds of uranium enriched to 80 percent. Simply put, Iran likely still has several nuclear options. It is just a question of which route Khamenei opts to take first — the Little Boy route, or the more complex implosion route that would require enriching uranium to 90 percent? Or is it enough for Iran simply to declare itself a nuclear power? The answer likely comes down to two key areas. How much fissile material does Iran still have after the airstrikes, and what is Tehran's remaining centrifuge capacity to continue enriching uranium? Notably, while much of the media's attention has been on Khamenei's stores of 60 percent highly enriched uranium, we cannot overlook Iran's 20 percent and 5 percent stockpiles. Prior to the June strikes, Tehran had 606 pounds of the former and 12,150 pounds of the latter. Iran Watch ominously warns that '20 percent enriched uranium is approximately 90% of the way to weapon-grade and Iran's stockpile would be sufficient to fuel at least two implosion weapons.' Plus, if further enriched, eventually Khamenei's 5% stockpile could be used to 'fuel at least 10 implosion weapons.' Determining exactly where these stockpiles are located in Iran is job one for U.S. and Israeli intelligence. Are they buried deep inside the rubble of Isfahan, Fordo and Natanz? Or were they moved prior to the strikes? Vice President JD Vance argued in late June that their location is a moot point —that the only question is whether 'Iran enriched the uranium to weapons-grade level, and can they convert that fuel into a nuclear weapon?' But this is not the case. Yes, Iran's remaining centrifuge capacity is also key, but so too is understanding how much fissile material remains and how long it will take Teheran to retrieve it and begin enriching anew. Uranium highly enriched to 60 percent is in a gaseous state and can be stored in cylinders approximately the same size of a scuba tank. Moving or hiding some of them could have been as easy as putting them in the back of a small car or SUV. Iran is not going to give up its nuclear weapons program. Ever since the strikes, it has remained defiant toward Washington. Therefore, the Trump administration must, at a minimum, assume some or all of Iran's enriched stockpiles are either retrievable from the rubble or accessible in an unknown location. Prior to the strikes, Iran Watch reported that Fordow mountain fortress had 2,700 operating gas centrifuges used to enrich uranium. Natanz had 17,000 deep underground and an above-ground facility containing 1,700 gas centrifuges. The latter above ground facility at Natanz, according to International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi, was destroyed by Israel on June 13. The jury is still out, however, as to how many of Iran's underground gas centrifuges remain. Much of Iran's nuclear weapons program was built covertly. It is highly likely that Iran has multiple undeclared centrifuge sites. If so, Iran producing one or two Little Boy-type nukes could be achieved at a minimum — and if needed, Tehran certainly has the technological know-how to build new centrifuges. The nuclear ashes of this phoenix are very real. Mythology is not required in order for Iran to resurrect its nuclear weapons program. Russian nuclear scientists pulled from the facilities prior to the airstrikes will likely return to enable Iran. Other aspects of Iran's nuclear program were targeted as well by Israel. Certainly, Tehran's nuclear ambitions have been set back. For instance, at Isfahan, Iran's facility that converts enriched uranium gas — a key weaponization component — to metal was partially destroyed by Israel. Nonetheless, it can be easily rebuilt. As Iran Watch notes, 'only dual-use industrial equipment' is needed to rebuild this part of Iran's nuclear phoenix. Other aspects of Iran's nuclear program were targeted as well by Israel. Israel eliminated at least 14 Iranian nuclear scientists. Additional Israeli strikes hit the Kermanshah ballistic missile facility, the Khondab nuclear reactor (which could be used to produce plutonium), and critical supporting military bases and research facilities all over Iran. Yet the head of this Phoenix remains Khamenei. Absent regime change, the Islamic Republic of Iran will aggressively continue to pursue nuclear weapons. Trump did the right thing in striking Iran. Now he must help Israel finish the job and put an end to the Khamenei regime. As we argued previously, Washington cannot negotiate with evil. It must be defeated.
The Star
11-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Hiroshima teens relay atom bomb horror with art series
Trudging through the ruins of Hiroshima after the US atom bombing four days before in 1945, five-year-old Masaki Hironaka clutched his mother's hand and silently vowed to protect her. It's one of many scenes from 80 years ago this August still etched in the octogenarian's memory - and now depicted vividly by Japanese teenagers on canvas. For almost 20 years, Motomachi High School in Hiroshima has tasked its art students with interviewing hibakusha - atom bomb survivors - and turning their harrowing testimonies into paintings. Showcased recently by the school ahead of the Aug 6 anniversary were 15 new artworks, including of scorched soldiers writhing in pain, and a horror-stricken girl surrounded by an inferno. "I think the painting very accurately captures my feelings at the time," Hironaka told AFP, nodding with satisfaction at one such piece that immortalised an "unforgettable page of my life". "It's authentic, and very well drawn." Schoolgirl Hana Takasago's evocative art shows a young Hironaka looking up at his mother as they plod through what remains of Hiroshima on Aug 10, 1945, with fires still lingering. Atomic bomb survivor Masaki Hironaka (left) shares his experience with a student, recounting the events of Aug 6, 1945, as part of a testimony project at Hiroshima's Motomachi High School. Photo: AFP A few days before, his father had come home heavily burned by the blast and asked Hironaka to yank out a glass shard stuck deep into his flesh. He died soon afterwards. The widowed mother, clasping Hironaka's tiny hand and with his younger sister strapped on her back, is depicted gazing down and mumbling to him about her fears. "In that moment, I was gripped by the strong determination to help and support her, young as I was. That's the feeling captured here," said Hironaka. 'Inner struggle' The "Little Boy" bomb dropped on Hiroshima killed around 140,000 people, including many who died from radiation. Motomachi High is now an integral part of what was originally the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum's initiative, which has over the years birthed more than 200 artworks. The idea is to keep memories of the bombing relevant for younger generations. In the last eight months or so, witnesses including Hironaka sat down with students every few weeks to review their works in progress, sometimes requesting a drastic re-do. Atomic bomb survivor Tomoko Wakimasu speaks to the media at a press preview of student paintings based on survivor testimonies at Hiroshima's Motomachi High School. Photo: AFP "I originally had Mr Hironaka and his mother face straight ahead, but he told me that their looking ahead doesn't really convey her inner struggle at the time," said Takasago, 17. "Since I've seen none of these described scenes myself, I was never confident that my depictions were accurate," she said in the school's cluttered art room. The same went for Yumeko Onoue, 16, whose art depicts pumpkins that Hironaka remembers were covered in soot from radioactive "black rain". Having initially drawn the fruit's leaves to face upward with vitality, she "completely re-drew them to wilt," to match Hironaka's memory. "While photos from that era were mostly black and white, paintings can add colour and emphasise key elements, making them, I think, ideal for expressing intended messages," said Onoue. 'The last generation' Many of these teens relied on their imagination and perused historical documents. Immersing themselves in the carnage took a toll on some such as Mei Honda, 18, who described the "emotionally draining" task of depicting charred skin and flesh dangling from people's arms. Atomic bomb survivor Masaki Hironaka speaks in front of a painting by student Hana Takasago, showing him and his mother after the 1945 bombing. Photo: AFP Based on what one hibakusha witnessed, her painting showed one such woman gulping water. "I initially depicted her arms pressed against her torso, but skin contact would have hurt her badly because of the burns," Honda said. Recent data showed that the number of survivors from the bombings is now below 100,000, with the average age 86 years old. "We are probably the last generation to have the opportunity to listen face-to-face to the experiences of hibakusha," said Aoi Fukumoto, a 19-year-old Motomachi High alumna. This sense of crisis was instilled by the project in other participants this year - including Takasago. "Before I embarked on this project, what the atomic bomb did had always felt distant to me even as a Hiroshima native," she said. But that changed after she lived vicariously through Hironaka's story. "I can no longer remain a bystander," she said. - AFP
Japan Today
07-07-2025
- General
- Japan Today
Hiroshima teens relay atomic bomb horror with art
Masaki Hironaka was five years old in 1945 when the United States dropped an atom bomb on Hiroshima, killing around 140,000 people By Tomohiro OSAKI Trudging through the ruins of Hiroshima after the U.S. atomic bombing four days before in 1945, five-year-old Masaki Hironaka clutched his mother's hand and silently vowed to protect her. It's one of many scenes from 80 years ago this August still etched in the octogenarian's memory -- and now depicted vividly by Japanese teenagers on canvas. For almost 20 years, Motomachi High School in Hiroshima has tasked its art students with interviewing hibakusha -- atom bomb survivors -- and turning their harrowing testimonies into paintings. Showcased recently by the school ahead of the August 6 anniversary were 15 new artworks, including of scorched soldiers writhing in pain, and a horror-stricken girl surrounded by an inferno. "I think the painting very accurately captures my feelings at the time," Hironaka told AFP, nodding with satisfaction at one such piece that immortalized an "unforgettable page of my life. It's authentic, and very well drawn." Schoolgirl Hana Takasago's evocative art shows a young Hironaka looking up at his mother as they plod through what remains of Hiroshima on August 10, 1945, with fires still lingering. A few days before, his father had come home heavily burned by the blast and asked Hironaka to yank out a glass shard stuck deep into his flesh. He died soon afterwards. The widowed mother, clasping Hironaka's tiny hand and with his younger sister strapped on her back, is depicted gazing down and mumbling to him about her fears. "In that moment, I was gripped by the strong determination to help and support her, young as I was. That's the feeling captured here," said Hironaka. The "Little Boy" bomb dropped on Hiroshima killed around 140,000 people, including many who died from radiation. Motomachi High is now an integral part of what was originally the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum's initiative, which has over the years birthed more than 200 artworks. The idea is to keep memories of the bombing relevant for younger generations. In the last eight months or so, witnesses including Hironaka sat down with students every few weeks to review their works in progress, sometimes requesting a drastic re-do. "I originally had Mr. Hironaka and his mother face straight ahead, but he told me that their looking ahead doesn't really convey her inner struggle at the time," Takasago, 17, told AFP. "Since I've seen none of these described scenes myself, I was never confident that my depictions were accurate," she said in the school's cluttered art room. The same went for Yumeko Onoue, 16, whose art depicts pumpkins that Hironaka remembers were covered in soot from radioactive "black rain". Having initially drawn the fruit's leaves to face upward with vitality, she "completely re-drew them to wilt," to match Hironaka's memory. "While photos from that era were mostly black and white, paintings can add color and emphasize key elements, making them, I think, ideal for expressing intended messages," Onoue said. Many of these teens relied on their imagination and perused historical documents. Immersing themselves in the carnage took a toll on some such as Mei Honda, 18, who described the "emotionally draining" task of depicting charred skin and flesh dangling from people's arms. Based on what one hibakusha witnessed, her painting showed one such woman gulping water. "I initially depicted her arms pressed against her torso, but skin contact would have hurt her badly because of the burns," Honda said. Recent data showed that the number of survivors from the bombings is now below 100,000, with the average age 86 years old. "We are probably the last generation to have the opportunity to listen face-to-face to the experiences of hibakusha," Aoi Fukumoto, a 19-year-old Motomachi High alumna, told AFP. This sense of crisis was instilled by the project in other participants this year -- including Takasago. "Before I embarked on this project, what the atomic bomb did had always felt distant to me even as a Hiroshima native," she said. But that changed after she lived vicariously through Hironaka's story. "I can no longer remain a bystander," she said. © 2025 AFP
Kuwait Times
07-07-2025
- General
- Kuwait Times
Hiroshima teens relay atom bomb horror with art
Trudging through the ruins of Hiroshima after the US atom bombing four days before in 1945, five-year-old Masaki Hironaka clutched his mother's hand and silently vowed to protect her. It's one of many scenes from 80 years ago this August still etched in the octogenarian's memory -- and now depicted vividly by Japanese teenagers on canvas. For almost 20 years, Motomachi High School in Hiroshima has tasked its art students with interviewing hibakusha -- atom bomb survivors -- and turning their harrowing testimonies into paintings. Showcased recently by the school ahead of the August 6 anniversary were 15 new artworks, including of scorched soldiers writhing in pain, and a horror-stricken girl surrounded by an inferno. 'I think the painting very accurately captures my feelings at the time,' Hironaka told AFP, nodding with satisfaction at one such piece that immortalized an 'unforgettable page of my life'. 'It's authentic, and very well drawn.' Schoolgirl Hana Takasago's evocative art shows a young Hironaka looking up at his mother as they plod through what remains of Hiroshima on August 10, 1945, with fires still lingering. A few days before, his father had come home heavily burned by the blast and asked Hironaka to yank out a glass shard stuck deep into his flesh. He died soon afterwards. The widowed mother, clasping Hironaka's tiny hand and with his younger sister strapped on her back, is depicted gazing down and mumbling to him about her fears. 'In that moment, I was gripped by the strong determination to help and support her, young as I was. That's the feeling captured here,' said Hironaka. Atomic bomb survivor Tomoko Wakimasu speaking to the media during a press preview of paintings created by students through survivors's testimonies. Atomic bomb survivor Shingo Naito (left-standing) speaking during a press preview of paintings. An art student taking part in an annual project by painting to preserve the testimonies of atomic bomb survivors. Atomic bomb survivor Masaki Hironaka looking at a painting (center) created by student Hana Takasago depicting him walking with his mother in the aftermath of the devastation in 1945. A student putting the final touches on a painting. A student putting the final touches on a painting for an annual project. 'Inner struggle' The 'Little Boy' bomb dropped on Hiroshima killed around 140,000 people, including many who died from radiation. Motomachi High is now an integral part of what was originally the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum's initiative, which has over the years birthed more than 200 artworks. The idea is to keep memories of the bombing relevant for younger generations. In the last eight months or so, witnesses including Hironaka sat down with students every few weeks to review their works in progress, sometimes requesting a drastic re-do. 'I originally had Mr. Hironaka and his mother face straight ahead, but he told me that their looking ahead doesn't really convey her inner struggle at the time,' Takasago, 17, told AFP. 'Since I've seen none of these described scenes myself, I was never confident that my depictions were accurate,' she said in the school's cluttered art room. The same went for Yumeko Onoue, 16, whose art depicts pumpkins that Hironaka remembers were covered in soot from radioactive 'black rain'. Having initially drawn the fruit's leaves to face upward with vitality, she 'completely re-drew them to wilt,' to match Hironaka's memory. 'While photos from that era were mostly black and white, paintings can add color and emphasize key elements, making them, I think, ideal for expressing intended messages,' Onoue said. 'The last generation' Many of these teens relied on their imagination and perused historical documents. Immersing themselves in the carnage took a toll on some such as Mei Honda, 18, who described the 'emotionally draining' task of depicting charred skin and flesh dangling from people's arms. Based on what one hibakusha witnessed, her painting showed one such woman gulping water. 'I initially depicted her arms pressed against her torso, but skin contact would have hurt her badly because of the burns,' Honda said. Recent data showed that the number of survivors from the bombings is now below 100,000, with the average age 86 years old. 'We are probably the last generation to have the opportunity to listen face-to-face to the experiences of hibakusha,' Aoi Fukumoto, a 19-year-old Motomachi High alumna, told AFP. This sense of crisis was instilled by the project in other participants this year -- including Takasago. 'Before I embarked on this project, what the atomic bomb did had always felt distant to me even as a Hiroshima native,' she said. But that changed after she lived vicariously through Hironaka's story. 'I can no longer remain a bystander,' she said.--AFP
