> ... the scientists had a very scientific method for deciding what substances to try: “Whatever we found in the cupboard,” they wrote. Eventually they discovered that gallium did the trick. It's still used in pits today..
> Scientists and engineers had always tested #NuclearWeapons in the easiest way possible: by blowing them up. If they exploded as expected, officials froze the design and made more clones of that weapon..
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/behind-the-scenes-at-a-u-s-factory-building-new-nuclear-bombs/
#NuclearPIts #PlutoniumPIts #SarahScoles