Last winter, in 2019, a small nuclear reactor exploded on a military testing site in Russia, killing seven people and causing a brief spike in radioactivity in two nearby cities. Even now, the details are still scarce; Russia’s nuclear agency blamed tests concerning ‘isotopic sources of fuel on a liquid propulsion unit’. But evidence suggests that the mysterious accident was related to Russia’s development of the Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered cruise missile that would offer a nearly unlimited range, allowing it to fly for much longer than conventionally powered cruise missiles that exist already.
Not long after the explosion, US President Donald Trump revealed in a tweet that the United States has ‘similar, though more advanced technology’ to the Burevestnik, sometimes referred to as ‘Skyfall’. The problem? The US already looked into nuclear-powered cruise missiles more than 50 years ago – and rejected them as completely impractical.
Denne historien er fra November/December 2020-utgaven av Popular Mechanics South Africa.
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Denne historien er fra November/December 2020-utgaven av Popular Mechanics South Africa.
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Can a retired rocket engine take us to Mars?
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The compact proportions make this a delightful daily commuter.
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Floor the pedal and overtaking is achieved easily and safely.
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THE HUMBLE BENCH GRINDER IS A STAPLE of the handyworker's home shop, largely due to its versatility. But, while you can employ one to remove metal from just about anything, the traditional kind may not provide the precision you need for every grinding operation. Here, we shed light on the best ways to use the different types of grinders, gleaned from our testing.
Unlock your devices' full potential with a USB-C hub
AS NEW TECH SHRINKS EACH YEAR, essential ports such as USB-A, HDMI, and ethernet are being replaced by the slimmer USB-C.
WE BUILT THE WORLD'S FIRST V-8 TESLA
THE RICH REBUILDS TEAM HAD A DEAD MODEL S. THEY FIXED IT WITH A CAMARO ENGINE.
I bought a GHOST TOWN
This abandoned California mining village once had 400 buildings. Now I'm restoring the 20 that remain.
F1 taught me that speed starts with comfort
AS A FAN OF MOTORSPORT, I'M ALWAYS fascinated with the finer details that go into Formula One racing. Piloting the fastest racing cars on the planet subjects drivers to savage forces - up to 6 G's under braking which has led to an almost endless pursuit of comfort.
