A discussion someone posted on LinkedIn.  I thought it was an interesting question.



"In a short six years beginning in 1939. the Manhattan Project completed the design for and the total manufacturing infrastructure to produce the first atomic bomb. By 1945, the project cost nearly $2 billion (roughly equivalent to $24.4 billion as of 2011) and had nearly 40 labratories and factories which employed nearly 200,000 people including some of the greatest scientists that have ever lived. Over 90% of the cost was for building factories and producing the fissionable materials, with less than 10% for development and production of the weapons. Research took place at more than 30 sites."

yes,

but we would have to deploy neutron bombs in Congress during full session

and wipe out every government regulatory and compliance agency

Quote from: RAT900 on December 14, 2011, 11:50:32 AM
yes,

but we would have to deploy neutron bombs in Congress during full session

and wipe out every government regulatory and compliance agency

[THUMBSUP]

As it stands today? Nope.

I don't think we could mobilize that much manpower without huge leaks and such.  Back then people were willing to work for peanuts just to have a job -- having come out of the great depression, and also the general feeling of patriotism to be working on such a project.

Nowadays, no.

Not to mention the secrecy involved.

Quote from: duccarlos on December 14, 2011, 12:25:21 PM
Not to mention the secrecy involved.

You're not supposed to mention the secrecy. 

The same analogy could be landing on the moon.  That whole plan and all the different programs and missions took a fraction of the time a single program takes today.

I have no doubt we could do it, given the same urgency that was present at that time.

People like to look to the past and say how much better it was, just like they like to say how terrible today's youth are (both have been happening for centuries); but it's BS for the most part. Continued scientific advancements and innovations prove it wrong.

The real question is could we keep it secret given the internet and such. Maybe not on that issue, given the number of people who would be involved, and the number of people who would be trying to figure out what was going on.

A little off topic but I went and toured the Manhattan Project B Reactor this summer. Very cool, and a little spooky.

Quote from: mitt on December 14, 2011, 12:41:44 PM
The same analogy could be landing on the moon.  That whole plan and all the different programs and missions took a fraction of the time a single program takes today.

I remember watching that lunar landing in the summer of 1969 on TV. Blew me away then and it still does.

I say no way we could pull off the bomb in this day and time and keep everyone else from knowing about it. They are right, with the internet there are no secrets. Loose lips sick ships.

however....how are we to know that the biggest secret project(s) are being done as we speak without our knowledge?
Maybe it is still possible

Quote from: lethe on December 14, 2011, 03:11:37 PM
however....how are we to know that the biggest secret project(s) are being done as we speak without our knowledge?
Maybe it is still possible

tinfoil by nh_painter, on Flickr

Quote from: ducpainter on December 14, 2011, 03:14:56 PM

tinfoil by nh_painter, on Flickr

what if tin foil manufacturer's have been putting mind reading chips in the tin foil? 

Quote from: lethe on December 14, 2011, 03:25:17 PM
what if tin foil manufacturer's have been putting mind reading chips in the tin foil? 

It would not be cost effective.

How much tinfoil ends up in hats?