A team of Chinese researchers claims to have successfully detonated a 2-kilogram (4.4-pound) non-nuclear hydrogen bomb, unleashing a powerful chemical chain reaction.
Conducted during a recent controlled field test, the device produced a white-hot fireball exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,832 degrees Fahrenheit) — hot enough to melt aluminum alloys.
It also sustained the explosion for over two seconds, which is 15 times longer than a standard TNT blast, according to the South China Morning Post.
Such combustion can reportedly inflict intense, far-reaching thermal damage, with the heat dispersing uniformly across wide areas.
“Hydrogen gas explosions ignite with minimal ignition energy, have a broad explosion range, and unleash flames that race outward rapidly while spreading widely,” said team leader Wang Xuefeng.
Though its full range of applications remains unclear, the team suggests the technology could be used to destroy high-value military targets.
How a Hydrogen Bomb Works
Unlike traditional weapons, hydrogen bombs rely on a solid-state material known as magnesium hydride, which stores far more hydrogen than pressurized gas tanks.
When triggered by conventional explosives, the material rapidly decomposes, releasing high-energy hydrogen gas.
Once mixed with air and ignited, the hydrogen gas undergoes a violent combustion reaction, creating a powerful, sustained blast.
However, manufacturing magnesium hydride is both complex and dangerous, as the material is highly reactive and even brief exposure to air can cause fatal explosions.
Production is currently limited to just “a few grams per day” due to the extreme conditions required.
