25 Impressive Bomb Facts That Are Fairly Explosive

Posted by , Updated on March 25, 2024

Bombs have probably defined your life more than you know. They’ve also probably been around longer than you think. In fact, bombs have been around ever since people realized they could use gunpowder to blow things up. Modern bombs, of course, are much bigger than anything that our ancestors would have come up with.

That much was made clear when Fat Man and Little Boy were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. What you probably didn’t realize is that the bombs of today are almost incomprehensibly more powerful. In fact, they are thousands of times more powerful. They are so powerful that if all of the nuclear weapons in the world were launched right now, the entire Earth would be engulfed in flames.

Not a single inch of the ocean, glacier, or desert would be left that wasn’t scorched, radiated, burned, and altogether blown to smithereens. Furthermore, this means that there would quite literally be nowhere to hide. Why is this important?

Because the only thing keeping everybody from launching all of their missiles is the fact that the enemy would launch all of their missiles right back. At any rate, you can see why this might have a significant effect on politics! These are 25 Impressive Bomb Facts That Are Fairly Explosive!

Featured Image: wikipedia

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25

First Nuclear Test Blast

The first nuclear test blast in New Mexico was so bright that a blind woman named Georgia Green allegedly asked her brother what the bright flash was. They were 50 miles away.Source: abqjournal.com, Image: wikipedia

The first nuclear test blast in New Mexico was so bright that a blind woman named Georgia Green allegedly asked her brother what the bright flash was. They were 50 miles away.

24

Ocean Bombs

Following the World Wars, millions of bombs and warheads are lying at the bottoms of the oceans because authorities have not found a way to dispose of themSource: earthmagazine.org, Image: wikipedia

Following the World Wars, millions of bombs and warheads are lying at the bottoms of the oceans because authorities have not found a way to dispose of them.

23

Shockwaves

Bomb disposal experts don't usually get killed by shrapnel. It is the shockwave that is dangerous. The bomb suits are nearly impenetrable.Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

Bomb disposal experts don’t usually get killed by shrapnel as the bomb suits are nearly impenetrable. It is the shockwave that is dangerous.

22

Blast Induced Barotrauma

Blast Induced Barotrauma is when the shockwave of a bomb causes pressure changes that lead to internal organs explodingSource: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

Blast-Induced Barotrauma is when the shockwave of a bomb causes pressure changes that lead to internal organs exploding.

21

Detecting Art Forgeries

One way to detect art forgeries is to test for various isotopes that didn't exist in nature until the first nuclear bombs exploded in the mid 20th centurySource: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

One way to detect art forgeries is to test for various isotopes that didn’t exist in nature until the first nuclear bombs exploded in the mid 20th century.

20

Deadly Lightning

In 1769 the city of Brescia, Italy was hit by lightning. Unfortunately the strike hit an area that was storing gunpowder. The resulting blast killed nearly 3,000 peopleSource: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

In 1769, the city of Brescia, Italy was hit by lightning. Unfortunately, the strike hit an area that was storing gunpowder. The resulting blast killed nearly 3,000 people.

19

Nuclear Construction

During the 70s engineers considered nuclear explosions to help with construction projectsSource: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

During the ’70s, engineers considered using nuclear explosions to help with construction projects.

18
In 1958, when engineers were doing construction near the entrance to the Royal Air Force, they had to move a replica of the biggest bomb used in WWII. The crazy part? They realized it wasn't a replicaSource: web.archive.org, Image: wikipedia
17

Doug Wood's Photograph

Doug Wood was getting ready to photograph an early test of the atomic bomb. He ripped his protective glasses of too early and had to shield his eyes with his hand. He said he could see the blood running through his armSource: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

Doug Wood was getting ready to photograph an early test of the atomic bomb. He ripped his protective glasses off too early and had to shield his eyes with his hand. He said he could see the blood running through his arm. After Doug removed his arm, he saw something even crazier…the person in front of him was a skeleton (he could almost see straight through him).

16

US and Russia

United States vs Soviet UnionSource: ploughshares.org, Image: Carlos3653 via wikimedia

The United States and Russia account for 93% of the world‘s nuclear weapons.

15

In 1968, a US bomber crashed in Greenland, and the 4 nuclear bombs it was carrying were recovered by the US government. At least that is what everyone thought. In 2008, it was revealed that one of the bombs was still stuck in the ice.

In 1968 a US bomber crashed in Greenland and the 4 nuclear bombs it was carrying were recovered by the US government. At least that is what everyone thought. In 2008 it was revealed that one of the bombs was still stuck in the iceSource: bbc, Image: wikipedia

This isn’t the only bomb accidentally lodged in the ground somewhere. Wait until you see number 11!

14

Explosion of Heligoland

In 1947, the British military used nearly 7,000 tons of left over explosive from World War II to blow up Heligoland, a small German island in the North Sea. The explosion is still one of the biggest non-nuclear explosions on recordSource: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

In 1947, the British military used nearly 7,000 tons of leftover explosives from World War II to blow up Heligoland, a small German island in the North Sea. The explosion is still one of the biggest non-nuclear explosions on record.

13

The Vela Incident

In the past 60 years there have been over 2,000 nuclear test explosions. Only one of them came from an unknown nationality.Image: pixabay, Image: wikipedia

In the past 60 years, there have been over 2,000 nuclear test explosions. Only one of them came from an unknown nationality. This unknown explosion has been called the Vela Incident, and it occurred in 1979 when a 3 kiloton nuclear bomb exploded in the Indian Ocean.

12

US and Russia High Alert Nukes

alertSource: wikipedia, Image: Alan Levine via flickr

The US and Russia have a combined 2581 nuclear warheads on high alert. This means they are capable of launching in less than 30 minutes (the approximate flight time of a missile between the US and Russia).

11

2 Nuclear Bombs in North Carolina

In 1961, a nuclear bomber crashed over North Carolina. The first of its two nukes deployed its parachute and 5 out of 6 safety devices activated, just barely avoiding a detonationSource: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

In 1961, a nuclear bomber crashed over North Carolina. The first of its two nukes deployed its parachute and 5 out of 6 safety devices activated, just barely avoiding a detonation. The second bomb, however, failed to deploy its parachute. It slammed into the ground and dug deep into the Earth. Fortunately, it didn’t explode either. It is still there today.

10

Tsar Bomba

tsar bombaSource: wikipedia, Image: Andy Zeigert via flickr

The largest bomb ever detonated was the Tsar Bomba. It was tested by the Soviet Union and had a yield of 50 megatons. That is 1,570 times the power of both nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined.

9

The "Gay Bomb"

trolling-memeSource: wikipedia

The US Air Force once looked into developing a “gay bomb” that involved using pheromones to make the enemy attracted to each other.

8

Stealth Bombers

One modern US stealth bomber is capable of carrying 16 nukes (B83). Each one of those bombs is 75 times as powerful as the one dropped on HiroshimaSource: nuclearweaponarchive.org, Image: wikipedia

One modern US stealth bomber is capable of carrying 16 nukes (B83). Each one of those bombs is 75 times as powerful as the one dropped on Hiroshima.

7

Horse Wagon in Wall Street

On September 16, 1920 a bomb in the back of a horse wagon exploded in Wall Street. That was the deadliest in New York City until 9/11Source: wikipedia, Image: pixabay

On September 16, 1920, a bomb in the back of a horse wagon exploded in Wall Street. That was the deadliest catastrophe in New York City until 9/11.

6

Suspicous Box

In Bristol, UK the bomb squad once blew up a box that was reported to be suspicious. Apparently the box contained instructional handouts on what to do in case you come across a suspicious box.Source: independent.co.uk

In Bristol, UK, the bomb squad once blew up a box that was reported to be suspicious. Apparently, the box contained instructional handouts on what to do in case you come across a suspicious box.

5

Lazy Dogs

Lazy dogs are small, unguided, and explosiveless bombs that are dropped on enemy battlefields from airplanes. Basically, they are bullets that reign down from above.Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

Lazy dogs are small, unguided, and nonexplosive bombs that are dropped on enemy battlefields from airplanes. Basically, they are bullets that reign down from above.

4

Northern Ireland Bomb Threat

In 1998, the IRA made a bomb threat to a courthouse in Northern Ireland. The police ended up evacuating people outside...which is where the bomb actually was. Hundreds of people were injured and 29 people diedSource: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

In 1998, the IRA made a bomb threat to a courthouse in Northern Ireland. The police ended up evacuating people outside…which is where the bomb actually was. Hundreds of people were injured and 29 people died.

3

Vietnam's Costly Cleanup

According to some estimates, it would take Vietnam almost 300 years to clear its territory of bombs and mines. It would also cost nearly $10 billion.Source: globalresearch.ca, Image: wikipedia

According to some estimates, it would take Vietnam almost 300 years to clear its territory of bombs and mines. It would also cost nearly $10 billion.

2

Battle of the Somme

In 1916, during the Battle of the Somme in World War I, a sixty thousand pound charge of explosives was detonated. The explosion was so huge that it was heard all the way in London.Source: wikipedia

In 1916, during the Battle of the Somme in World War I, a sixty thousand pound charge of explosives was detonated. The explosion was so huge that it was heard all the way in London.

1

Bat Bombs

During World War II, the US developed something called bat bombs. These bombs would open above cities and release bats that held even smaller time bombs. Those small time bombs were actually incendiary, which means they were meant to start firesSource: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

During World War II, the US developed something called bat bombs. These bombs would open above cities and release bats that held even smaller time bombs. Those small time bombs were actually incendiary, which means they were meant to start fires.