r/science • u/Skoltech_ • 1d ago

Materials Science Scientists found many new molecules, some with over 75% of TNT's explosive power

https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2468606925000292
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u/StacyChadBecky 1d ago

I’m not sure I follow. Is it that hard to find things less explosive than TNT? 75% of means less powerful. It’s just a weird way of saying “scientists found many new molecules less explosive than TNT”

27

u/KiwasiGames 1d ago

TNTs main value proposition isn’t even that it’s explosive. It’s that it will sit there not exploding until you want it to explode.

Most advances in conventional explosives have all been directed at this point. Make something that is stable under normal handling conditions and only explodes when you are ready for it.

Makes sense when you thing about it. Most of an average explosives life cycle is spent not exploding.

6

u/BPhiloSkinner 1d ago

Science is making things that explode: Engineering is making those things explode only when you want them to.

6

u/KiwasiGames 1d ago

Ain’t that the truth.

I was severely disappointed when I started as a chemical engineer how much of my job was dedicated to avoiding explosions.

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u/Cautious_Parsley_898 1d ago

Looks like we were both misled by higher education