Word: compressions
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Dates: during 1990-1990
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Almost certainly, an unintentional blast would detonate only the chemical explosives that, if fired deliberately, would compress the warhead's plutonium cores and touch off an unstoppable atomic chain reaction. Some experts see a slim chance of a nuclear explosion in the case of the W-79 artillery shell, but the far more likely result would be a chemical blast that could release deadly radioactive plutonium or uranium from the cores. The safety problems, disclosed last week by the Washington Post, were promptly confirmed in public congressional hearings. The difficulties seem sure to complicate immensely a review under...