QinetiQ exploding ink could enable point-and-click fuses
By Marc Perton 
posted Feb 8th 2006 12:14PM
posted Feb 8th 2006 12:14PM
UK defense
contractor QinetiQ has filed a patent for an explosive ink that could allow fuses to be designed on a computer and then
printed directly onto ordinary paper. The ink is stable when wet, and only becomes active when a current is fed through
a metal strip placed on top of the printed fuse. Once the fuse is activated, it can be used to trigger just about any
kind of explosive device, from fireworks to munitions. (We don't even want to know what happens if you get a paper
jam.) Somehow, we expect the defense industry to do its best to keep this one under lock and key, and we sort of hope
they succeed, if only so we can avoid having to wait as TSA officials disassemble our portable inkjet every time we
pass through customs.
This message will self destruct in 5..4..3 (you know you were all thinking it)
Would static set it off?
I realize the photo to the right is just a stock photo, but could someone explain why the cone begins in midair?
As a former Missile Technician on Trident II Submarines, I would like to give you a little insight on this. There are three types of bursts for any type of bomb (nuclear included), ground, air and subterrainian. The ground burst is used for maximum destruction at ground level and will destroy everything. An air burst will kill the occupants and leave structures standing. The airburst is particularly useful if you want to keep some of the infrastructure in place to eventually occupy that area. The subterrainian burst is usefull for taking out a hardened target such as a bunker. If you have a set grouping of explosions under and on the sides of a cemented bunker, it will cause the structure to emplode on itself.
There's a paper jam.. Someone call Pam. we always get slammed with these paper jams. give it a good wham!!! I couldn't get Pam so I brought Gram. Why are we rhyming?
The cone begins in midair because all nukes are detonated a couple hundred feet up from the ground. See http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/ for a lot more info.
yeah, like #2, i think that picture's incredible looking. i'd love to know more about it. anyone know where/what it's from? thanks!
can't you allready use a printer to make pcb thingies? If so, then a fuse is notmuch more.
This kind of gives entirely new meaning to the word mailbomb...I would hate to think what someone could do with this and one of those annoying watch battery powered birthday cards.
The most lethal detonation of a atomic weapon (as in the most area of destruction) is in the air.
I forgot the distance from the ground to the detenation but I am sure you can google it.
Yeah, as #7 said, its an h-bomb detonated a few hundred feet off the ground.
Bejaysus. High tech or what? But will it be low cost when it first gets onto the market?
Finally Destructable TPS reports!
Hmm I am lested for information here, what if the N-bomb explodes when it hits the ground what happens?