Rumor/Report: Russia gearing towards nuking ISIS

[jigokutamago]

Dulfite said:

I believe the original atomic bomb didn't have radiation in it, which is why we called it an atomic bomb and not a nuclear bomb. I could be wrong, but that is my understanding of it, so I do think it is possible to have the massive explosion without the fallout, but if I'm wrong I'm sure someone will please correct me?

Atomic bombs work inherently on breaking appart unstable atoms. When these atoms are broken apart, high energy pieces and rays fly out. What we know as radiation can be either gamma rays which can be thought of as high enegy light waves, particles made up of neutrons and protons, and high energy electrons. When these particles and rays hit us they can cause large amounts of tissue damage.

While it may be possible to have an equivalent explosion without splitting an atom, some estimate that you would need about 15,000 tons of TNT to equal the energy released in the original atomic bomb.