Chernobyl, Fukushima and Three Mile Island are some of the best known industrial accidents in history. In this class, I will present technical overviews of the accidents, as well commentary on the differing interpretations of their effects on industry and the environment.

Nuclear weapons are the stuff of nightmares. The allow nations to play God, toying with the fate of mankind over ideologies, profits and political posturing. Over 15,000 exist at the moment—some 3400 on high alert and poised to launch at any minute—meaning that mankind is separated from annihilation by four people, two keys and a little book of codes. Quite reasonably, the technical details relating to nuclear weapons manufacture have become the most guarded secrets in the history of mankind. However, the passage of time has brought many of these secrets out of the shadows. Through this class, I intend to help students understand the physics behind nuclear weapons, fusion boosting and the hydrogen bomb using information now available in the public sphere. Further, I intend for the class to learn the consequences of nuclear war in a quantitative, un-politicized fashion. We will cover: • The physics of fusion and fission • Criticality, the four-factor formula o Gun-type nuclear weapons o Implosion-type weapons • Uranium enrichment o Plutonium (properties, manufacture) o U-233 • Nuclear safeguards o Failures o Accidents • The radiological and climatological effects of nuclear war While this class will be challenging, all students will learn something from it, and perhaps come to understand the dire threat that nuclear weapons pose to all humanity.

A 1:50 course dealing with the basics of ionizing radiation, nuclear reactions, reactors and weapons. Ever wanted to know how a nuke works or how Chernobyl happened? This is the class for you. Will include demonstrations and video clips. Topics that will (likely) be covered: -Qualitative properties of alpha, beta, neutron and gamma radiation -History of radioactivity -Fission and fusion: Reactions, reactors, weapons -Biological impacts of radiation -Nuclear disasters (Chernobyl, Chelyabinsk-40, Hiroshima/Nagasaki) -Radiation detection and protection -Playing with NukeMap!