Re:The SR-71's predecessor used cesium-laced fuel to create ...
by regularfry on Friday September 13, 2019 @02:36AM
(#20959738)
Uranium is... not nice stuff. I wouldn't classify it as "not particularly toxic". https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2819790/
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Re:The SR-71's predecessor used cesium-laced fuel to create ...
by astine on Friday September 13, 2019 @01:15PM
(#20964130)
True, but the alternative is tungsten, which is not much better in terms of toxicity:
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp186.pdf
The problem here is that armor piercing rounds need to be made of heavy metals in order to work and heavy metals are generally toxic. Even lead, which old fashioned bullets and shells are made of is toxic.
Re:The SR-71's predecessor used cesium-laced fuel to create ...
by regularfry on Friday September 13, 2019 @02:00PM
(#20964629)
Uranium is more likely to distribute that toxicity in a convenient dust cloud, though. Tungsten and lead for the most part stay in one piece on impact.
Re:The SR-71's predecessor used cesium-laced fuel to create ...
by sokoloff on Friday September 13, 2019 @08:05AM
(#20961316)
This is in the context of a substance we’re trying to use to destroy enemy tanks and kill/injure combatants, not make s’mores out of.
Re:The SR-71's predecessor used cesium-laced fuel to create ...
by jhonkola on Friday September 13, 2019 @09:01AM
(#20961679)
Though it remains in the environment even after the operation and civilians will be exposed to it. This has been the case in e.g. Balkans (https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/07/world/radiation-from-balk...) and also in Iraq (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/19/us-depleted-ur...)
Re:The SR-71's predecessor used cesium-laced fuel to create ...
by DuskStar on Friday September 13, 2019 @01:13PM
(#20964101)
Perhaps I should have said "not outrageously toxic" or something of that sort, because that does not sound worse than the stuff we make normal bullets out of - lead.
Re:The SR-71's predecessor used cesium-laced fuel to create ...
by regularfry on Friday September 13, 2019 @01:54PM
(#20964547)
Lead doesn't shatter the way uranium does, so it's less inclined to form a breathable dust on impact.