Two Students Built an A-Bomb (2003)

In the 1960s, two students, Dave Dobson and Bob Selden, participated in a covert Pentagon initiative called the Nth Country Project, aimed at determining whether non-experts could design a nuclear bomb. The project emerged in the context of rising fears of nuclear proliferation following the Cuban missile crisis. Despite lacking nuclear expertise, both men, equipped only with physics knowledge, were tasked with creating a bomb design without access to classified information. They worked under strict conditions at the Livermore Radiation Laboratory, where they had to submit their designs for testing without knowing if they were being evaluated against real-world standards. Ultimately, they produced a detailed document outlining a bomb design that could theoretically be constructed. Their findings revealed that, while obtaining fissile material is a significant challenge, the actual design of a nuclear weapon was not overwhelmingly difficult. This realization left both men troubled about the implications of their work, particularly in light of contemporary threats from terrorist organizations. Dobson chose to leave the field of nuclear research, while Selden continued to engage with military research and policy. Their experiences underscore the ongoing concerns about nuclear proliferation and the accessibility of nuclear weapon design knowledge.

- The Nth Country Project aimed to assess if non-experts could design a nuclear bomb.

- Dobson and Selden produced a viable bomb design without classified information.

- The project highlighted the ease of designing a nuclear weapon compared to obtaining fissile material.

- Both participants were left troubled by the implications of their findings on nuclear proliferation.

- The project remains relevant amid contemporary concerns about nuclear threats from rogue states and terrorist groups.